Notes
Hi to everyone^^
First of all, a necessary precisation. This chapter has been written for the biggest part between June 20th and 30th, so any reference and any possibly recall to real events occurred in the last days is completely fortuitous.
Once again, thank you so much to all the readers and rewievers. You're fantastic^^
MWKillkenny: Per quello dovrai aspettare un po', ma abbi fiducia, succederà^^
See you soon!^_^
6
Seeing it from the base, the tower granted by the king to Falcon-1 was even more massive and impressive.
In its inside there was everything one could need: a kitchen, three dormitories, and even a dining room: and obviously there were even an armory, covered windows and a direct connection with the roof and the walls.
«Magnificent.» commented Stefanini
«I think we could put our remote antenna on the top of the tower.» said Rizzoli. «From up there, we should be free from any sort of interference.»
«Very well» replied Lunardi. «Do it. I want to have the signal as soon as possible. And provide a continuous surveillance on the radio. If they manage to create this goddam signal, I want to be the first one to know it.»
«The tower has been completely rebuilt only three months ago» said Aristhes. «There's an underground room directly connected to the palace with a secret passage. The walls are eight feats thick, and the stone maintains a good temperature on the inside.» then he smiled. «Almost better than a nobleman's house.»
«Thank you, Captain. Your hospitality is truly appreciated.»
«We heard of your power. I suppose the king aims to make a good impression to you in order to gain a special relationship with your people. Calibria is a powerful city, but all other cities are against us, so we're in constant search for allies.»
«I understand. Obviously, I cannot make promises, but I swear you I'll make an honest report to my commanders where I'll put the emphasis about your hospitality and support to us.»
«Yay!» suddenly shouted Tymlin. «And now, it's time for some shopping!»
«We don't go anywhere, Tymlin» replied Lunardi. «Our orders are clear. No one must know our true identity.»
«If this is your problem, don't worry.» Anthelea said. «For this city's inhabitants, the strangers are all similar. If you don't do anything that could attracting attention, no one will find out who you really are.»
«Are you sure?» Medea answered. «Even if I'm… well…»
«Calibria gave refuge to a great number of Warrior Bunnies after the last war.» said Aristhes «They live for the bigger part in their own neighborhood near to the northern door, but it's absolutely common to see them along the streets, so you too have no need to worry.»
«I understand. Thank you so much.»
«It's nothing. And sorry for what I said earlier about your people.»
«No. You were right. If we had been less proud, and accepted to cooperate with you, maybe our people would survive.»
«The Empire is an enemy for both of us» said Anthelea. «But for now, don't think about this. Professor Radoni has an important quest to face, and the council has decided that you and Lady Sadee will be allowed to help him.»
«Really!?»
«Let's say that there's someone in the Council that would be really happy to put an end to the school's fanaticism and obscurantism, and a Warrior Bunny's victory both in a school's exam and in an official challenge would be a good incentive to start a real change.»
«Thank you so much, Lady Anthelea. I'll do my best to help the professor.»
«Very well.» said Aristhes to Lunardi. «Now I leave you to your things. I suppose you have much to do.»
«Wait a moment» the Captain said before they could leave. «Do you have an Avion among your people?»
Lunardi and his soldiers needed almost the entire day to prepare the tower for all of their needs and stow their equipment.
The vehicles were housed in one of the royal barns, with precise dispositions from Aristhes that no one was admitted to enter without his permission or Lunardi's one.
At the twilight, the work was done. Thanks to a diesel generator it had been possible to install a simple electric system, providing the tower with the light and energy for the computer systems.
«You've done good work, soldiers.» Lunardi said at the end of the works. «The evening is yours. Have fun!»
«Yay!» loudly said Tymlin. «And after the work, it's party time!»
«Come to think of, why're you still here? The terms were clear if you remember, you were supposed to follow us only till the city.»
«Of course! But now I must do my duty as apostle! I must spread the cult of mighty Vulcan among the mortals, and this city is surely the best place to begin!»
«That's not the point.» Stefanini replied. «The Captain wanted to ask you why you're still here among us. The city is quite big, find a place to stay for yourself.»
«I could, but since I have not a single coin, I suppose that the only choice is to accept your gentle hospitality.»
«I don't remember we ever offered you our hospitality. And plus this, I already said you that I will not share my room with anyone, especially you.»
«Would you really leave this cute, sweet girl all alone with all those horny men?» Tymlin replied taking a provocative pose that was completely out of place for her childish figure. «I'm an apostle, I cannot lead humans in temptation.»
«As if we could be tempted» silently laughed Rizzoli from a window of the tower. «We could be sentenced for pedophilia.»
«Enough» said Lunardi. «We cannot deny that Tymlin gave us a big help in preparation of the tower, not counting her support in repelling the assault in the desert. So, I think that a reward would not be a crime, even if it will be barely the opportunity to live here with us.»
«Really!?» loudly said the little girl. «Thank you so much, Capitano!»
«But I must ask you to not disturb my soldiers' work. You can live and rest here in the tower, but during the day you'll have to leave till evening.»
«Of course! There are plenty of souls to save in this city! I'll not be workless for sure!»
«As always» mourned Stefanini. «She wins every time.»
«Who knows» cheerfully said Amato. «Maybe our commander has some sort of lolita complex.»
«I heard you, Amato. Do you want to spend your first license in patrolling?»
«Aye aye, sir…»
«Ok, boys! Niang, Wang, Cassetti and Rocco will stay here to guard of the HQ! The other ones, I want you back by midnight! Dismissed!»
«Hurray!» shouted all ones.
After Medea, Sadee and Radoni had taken her place in the magic school's dormitory, obviously all the three of them in the female one, the young wizard decided to pay a visit to the tower.
When she arrived, however, all the ones blessed with the off duty had already left, while the only three left were standing everyone on his own, making the strangest things.
Soldier Wang was occupied in some sort of training, performing astonishing martial arts with superb elegance and deadly precision at the same time; soldier Cassetti was kneeled to the tower's wall, with the eyes closed and the hands clasped around a strange necklace provided with a cross.
Finally, Niang, finally free from the bandages, was standing in front of a little mat with no shoes and the eyes to the ground, he too with the hands clasped and the necklace around them, but without the cross. Medea silently approached him, being able to hear the strange words he was murmuring, almost singing.
«Every glory to the Lord, supreme ruler of all the worlds / The compassionate, the merciful / The ruler of the end of the days / We beg for you, we ask for your help / Lead us along the right way.»
Then, he prostrated on the mat.
«Allāhu Akbar.»
It was so suggestive, so struggling that Medea almost lost herself in looking it.
«They're praying» someone suddenly said behind her, almost making her die of fear
«Are you sure you don't want to be a Warrior Bunny? You would be a wonderful assassin.»
Both of them then looked again at the three soldiers, which despite the noises hadn't interrupted their prayers.
«And… that?» Medea said pointing her finger to Wang. «Is that also… a pray?»
«Every cult has its own way to create a connection with the spiritual world» replied Radoni. «In front of you there are the three main religions of our world. The Christians, the Islam, and the Buddhism.»
«So, there are many cults even in your world.»
«Sure. But cohabitation has been quite difficult through history.»
«Why!? We also have many cults and religions, even among the same races. Of course, there have been some religious wars in ages, but now everyone is free of pray the god he prefers.»
«Things are a bit different. In our world, almost every religion has one single God, and each of them claims to be the sole God, and calls those who follow another cult "infidels". Many wars have been fought for this reason, and many others are fought every day in every place of Earth.»
«I… don't understand. You seem so advanced and wise. So why do you fight each other for such a poor affair?»
Radoni remained silent for a moment, not knowing how to answer.
«It's… complicated. In our country, anyone can pray to the God he wants, but in many other places it's different. Plus this, our religions are quite ambiguous. They speak of peace and fraternity, but at the same time each of them pretend to become the sole religion among all men. And this is the reason behind many of the wars which currently burn in our world.»
Medea looked again Niang and the others, smiling in happiness.
«But you're different. The proof is here in front of me. And for me, this is enough to trust you.»
Radoni too appeared to smile, but in a blink of an eye his expression dramatically changed.
«But enough talk! Master Pharmenon says that your auntie's studies were based for the bigger part on some books in the lower section of the library, the same one we want reach to conduct our proper researches. One more reason to pass this goddam exam and win the challenge. This means that you will help me too! Come on!»
«Wait… what!? What are you saying!? Ouch! Ehi, stop pulling my ear! It hurts! Where are you taking me?»
Lunardi thought that General Pedersoli needed to be warned about the unexpected change of plans, but think to send someone of his squad back to Castria was simply impossible.
Fortunately, the Avion's flight speed was almost incredible.
Despite there were almost 1.000 kilometers between Calibria and Castria, the young Sagriph, one of Commander Aristhes' most trustful soldiers, managed to complete his journey in less than two days, taking only a couple of hours to rest halfway through the trip.
Thanks to the signal code learned from Flavio, Sagriph managed to pass through the powerful surveillance system of towers, cameras and guards built all around the city, and less than one hour after his arrival he was already in the General's office.
«I understand» Pedersoli said after reading the letter. «This is undoubtedly an unexpected change of plans. Thanks for coming this far, mister Sagriph.»
«It's a pleasure, sir.» the young soldier respectfully answered.
Then, the General took a sheet of paper and began to write a missive himself using his old, dear fountain pen, the same one with whom he had signed the final authorization for Operation Columbus.
To the Falcon-1 Division's Commander, Cpt. Lunardi,
I received your message.
Obviously this implies an inevitable change of plans. Since the government and the Supreme Command of this mission consider your one a primary task, your objective doesn't change.
You'll stay at Calibria until professor Radoni will be allowed to sustain his exam and, eventually, the challenge to gain access to the school's secret library.
Unfortunately, I must warn you that our first test with the analogic system has gone wrong, and the forest still blocks all of your radio signals. The chief engineers have decided to try to implement the power of the signal installing some antennas, but we're still searching for the right places to place them.
Even the construction of the airport is going rather slow, since we've been forced to assign more units to patrol missions; it seems that Reich is preparing to move once again, since our spies report of a new recruiting campaign in the main cities of the empire. We don't know what their purpose is yet, but we cannot exclude a second attempt of conquest against Castria.
In order to avoid the spread of panic among your soldiers or the same people of Calibria, I command you not to share the content of this letter with anyone else. As soon as possible I'll try to contact you in order to give you more clear information about these new Reich's movements.
The Commander of Operation Columbus
General Pedersoli
The general put the letter into an envelope, closing it with an adhesive stamp.
«Deliver this letter to my Captain, and wish him the best luck from his General.»
«Consider it done.» replied Sagriph while putting the letter into his travel bag
«One more thing.» Pedersoli said again showing him a new paper. «I must ask you to sign this document. With this, you swear to never speak to anyone about this place, or whatever you saw or heard inside Castria.»
«Yes, I know. I've been informed about this ritual» the young Avion replied.
Then, he took up a feather from his own wings, and pricking a finger he used the same feather to sign the document using his blood.
«As our traditions command, I seal my word with my blood and soul.»
Sometime later, the Avion departed once again, refusing any offer or reward for his work apart some food and water to sustain him along the road.
Tymlin said she wanted to use Calibria as a starting point to give new hope to her faith, but for the first days she spent almost all of her time in doing all things one could expect from a preteen.
Like many other little girls, she loved to play, especially with other children, and apart from her massive force she had absolutely nothing different from an ordinary child.
And Lunardi, much to some of his soldiers' disappointment, was quite permissive with her, tolerating much of her spontaneity and hyperactivity, but the definitive proof of the almost impressive influence that she had on him arrived one week later than Falcon-1's arrival at Calibria.
Near the city's main square there was a little rounded stage, used by the orators to announce proclaims or edicts to the crowd or by philosophers and priests to explain their theories and dogmas during a debate. Sometime it was used even for public trials, since by Calibria's law most of the common crimes, from robbery to rape, were put under the supreme judgment of a jury made by the same crowd.
Finally, overcoming an unusual shyness, one morning Tymlin accepted to try to speak to the crowd that filled the square for the weekly traveling market.
Unfortunately, she proved soon to be completely inexpert in such things, and despite all of her efforts almost no one stopped to hear her sermons about Vulcan's life and legendary power.
«It's useless…» she sorrowfully said while walking together with Lunardi and Stefanini along the Merchants' Road. «Not a single conversion, a doubt. Neither a simple question.»
«What did you expect?» Stefanini said to herself. «You're not even able put ten words in the same phrase. It almost seemed like I was listening an elementary school's debate instead of a religious sermon.»
«They say that even a speech is a form of art» Lunardi replied. «Not at all, the ancient Romans used to call it the Ars Retorica, or the Art of Speak. Maybe, if you would improve your ability to speak, you could be able to gather a crowd and have an audience.»
«Captain, you're pretending a bit too much, don't you think?» said Stefanini. «Did you forget you're talking to a child?»
«How many times do I have to say it!?» replied the little girl clearly offended. «I'm not a child! I'm apostle Tymlin, faithful servant of Mighty Vulcan!»
«Yeah, yeah. But if you don't find quickly someone who at least will listen to you, I fear that your cult will have a very short life.»
At a certain point, all three entered in a little, circular plaza not far from the main gate of the walls, dominated by an old, ruined building similar to an ancient Greek temple. Judging from the high columns, the reliefs and the imposing staircase, it had once been the home of an important cult, but now it was nothing more than a ruin ready to collapse.
«What a fantastic temple.» said Lunardi. «This world is much more developed than we could initially imagine.»
«It surely knew better times.» said Stefanini
«This is a dwarf temple» Tymlin replied. «I recognize the style of building.»
«Excuse me» the Captain asked an old beggar that sat near the fountain giving him some coins. «To which deity was this temple devoted?»
«To Vulcan, the Dwarf God of Flames and Forge.»
«What!?» Tymlin exclaimed. «Was this really Vulcan's temple!?»
«So there was a time when Vulcan was worshiped even here in the Plains?»
«Of course. Calibria has a long tradition in metallurgical sciences, so Vulcan had many adepts, but when the cult of the imperial deity Gaslia reached our city, Vulcan's followers begun to disappear, and the Dwarf Wars did the rest. At last, when the last Vulcan's abbot died fifty years ago without successors, Vulcan's cult died with him. Now that ruin is just a refuge for beggars and thieves.»
«It's so sad» said a melancholic Tymlin. «To see mighty Vulcan's glorious house in such state.»
But then, the fire of passion burned once again in her eyes.
«I have decided! I'll rebuild this temple!»
«Rebuild the temple!?» repeat Stefanini clearly stunned
«You said that: I need to find a way to recreate the cult of Vulcan in this city. If I rebuild my lord's house, then all the people of Calibria will have a place to pray for his power and benevolence once again. And you will help me!»
«Eh!?» Stefanini jumped
«You're the proof of Vulcan's might! You're practically his apostles in this world, just like me! Your efforts in rebuild this temple will be the proof of my lord's benevolence and his strong will to restore his cult in this city.»
«Again!? This is becoming an obsession. Do you want understand or not that we're not the goddam apostles you say. Our meeting in the desert was just a coincidence, and nothing more. Plus this, we're soldiers, not carpenters, and we have too much work to waste our time in this…
«Done.» Lunardi said with no hesitations
«What!?»
«You won, Tymlin. We'll help you to rebuild the temple.»
«Really!?» she cheerfully said
«But when the works will be over, you'll move from the tower to the temple, and you'll spend all of your time to oblige your duties as apostle, agree?»
«Yes, obviously!»
«Captain!» shouted Stefanini. «Stop to kneel before this brat!»
«Our job was supposed to be short-lived, but now it's clear that we'll need to stay here much longer. And for me, you have too much free time lately. A bit of work will keep all of you in exercise, and will help us to make time pass.»
«Thank you so much, Flavio! You're truly a Vulcan's apostle!»
That night, as always, the guards were mounting guard along the walls.
At a certain hour, the city's doors were closed, and after midnight the entirety of Calibria, apart from the usual religious festivities, faded in sleep and darkness.
Despite the tremendous hot that usually burned the Plains during the day, night temperatures were able to drop almost to 0°, and especially the region of Calibria was well known for its incredibly cold nights, especially during the last months of the year.
From one of the towers' summit, one of the soldiers was mounting guard, trying as much as the companion alongside him to search for the most little sign of danger in the hills and fields outside the walls, almost completely covered in a darkness and barely illuminated by the stars' light.
«Wake up.» he said seeing his partner close to fall asleep to the ground. «We're not on vacancy.»
Suddenly, a light appeared about three hundred meters far from the walls, but in the time the sentinel took to understand its meaning it sat off lightning to the sky, before coming down and hitting the wooden column of the roof's canopy, revealing to be a flaming arrow.
«It's an attack!» someone shouted, and immediately most of the guards, for the biggest part young recruits at their first assignment, begun to shoot against the invisible enemy.
«Hold your fire!» shouted the first sentinel after having noted a piece of scroll rolled up around the arrow. «It's a message!»
Then he took it, but before he could try to open it or doing something else Aristhes reached them attracted by the bustle.
«What's happening?»
«Someone launched this message from the plains, Captain.» the sentinel answered giving the paper to the Captain.
The scroll was sealed with a wax stamp, but there were no signs or insignias; Aristhes then opened it, but as he begun to read it the greatest astonishment appeared on his eyes.
«Oh, gods…»
That night, as always, king Deiphobos was busy in enjoying the evening with one of his many concubines; suddenly, Captain Aristhes opened the door, finding them in the middle of their affairs.
«What the hell are you doing!?» the king angrily shouted
«I'm sorry my lord! But this is really urgent!»
«So urgent that you cannot even wait for tomorrow?»
«With all respect no, my lord.»
Snorting, Deiphobos ordered to the concubine to disappear.
«So?» he asked while taking a cup of wine from the bedside table. «What's the problem?»
«We received a message, sir.» Aristhes answered shoving him the scroll
«From whom?»
«From Reich.»
