Author's Note: Finally recovered part of the deleted manuscript
CHAPTER TWELVE
The making of a mission is like that of a puzzle game. There are individual pieces that need to be fit together to a whole picture, as the toothy gears in an intricate piece of clockwear. Nothing could be forgotten, everything must be as so, for there is always such a razor thin line between success and failure that makes any margin of error fatal for a Sabre.
There is always the grand objective, the unifying theme that all the pieces work towards. For this mission, it was to knock out the greatest threat that faced us yet, the presence of the rakens, the flying beasts that hinders all of our covert operations by their very existence. The target was a compound settled in the wide plains of northeastern Amadicia. At our count of thirty raken and five of their larger cousins, the to'raken. Perhaps fortunate for us as we arrived, when ten additional raken were brought in. They were adequately guarded and maintained. This task of infiltration and sabotage would not be too easy.
Then there was the time limit. Map gave us three days to prepare, pull off the operation, and leave. Staying longer than three days so deep in the enemy territory creates more risk of discovery than withering their airborne scouts.
Any then the pieces begin to move together, ever so cleverly. Minor correspondences were intercepted ever so deftly, and returned to their couriers without any alarm raised. A perimeter of watchers was established around the compound, until every patrol route and change of guards were recorded in the increasingly detailed schematic that Map now studies every minute of the day.
First contact and breech was made in the shape of a disguised Lore entering the wide reach of the compound with food for the guard. The compound had been established around a farming town, and large quantities of food enter the compound every day. However, civilians were restricted to the outer reaches, barred in the inner bailey. The food, of course was tested by the creatures' handlers and personally prepared. For our purposes, Lore's early reconnaissance of the entry protocol was adequate.
And in the center of the web, pulling on each strand of information, Map began to weave the elaborate mission plan. Colored pins appeared and disappeared on her blueprint at will, and in her mind, the strategy took form. In every step, she plotted the likeliest path, but placing alternate paths at each possible generated failure. She was not close to fool proof, but she was damn close.
To her credit, her strategy was hammered out by the second day, and began the onerous task of drilling each of the steps and the backup steps and the backup-backup steps in each of heads. Lore prepared our tongues for simple Seanchan accents. Kay procured four Seanchan armors, no questions asked.
And in the absence of Stim, I was given the onerous task of preparing the deathblow for the rakens, aided by the contents of a stolen apothecary's pouch. It was especially difficult as I lacked any knowledge of their physiology and somehow needed to concoct potions potent enough for dozens of massive animals, but compact enough to be hidden on my person. I settled for a cocktail of nightshade and alibar so condensed that an accidental whiff managed to knock me for half a day to wake with cramped muscles and a headache.
And then there was always the back-up plan. A blade to the eye should put them out of commission, although that introduces a nightmare of challenges. It would be messy and loud, and our mission would be made much more difficult if we were forced to that.
On the third day, Operation Day, we set out near dawn when the bureaucrats were groggy and the guards were changing. Lore, Map, and I were the infiltrators while Kay cloistered himself in base camp. We wore Seanchan armor, but with bared heads. I was slightly worried whether they could recognize Westlanders from our faces and hair, but Lore had revealed the fairly diverse ethnic composition of the Seanchan army. There were enough random tribes in that melting pot that could account for our looks.
The important part, as I was aware, is the ability to project a sense of belonging. If we could look like we belonged there, and that we had a right to be there, observers will simply see that and move on. Except for certain observers. I wondered if there were any of the special soldiers in that compound, though none have been recognized in our watches.
We traversed the main road into the compound that lead through the city. Lore flashed a piece of paper to the gateguards and we were in that insignificant city. A rose tinged sun peeked out over the eastern plains, watching over the residents of the city, now outnumbered by the military personnel that roamed from building to building. They had seized many of the larger houses for offices and quarters, as well as those closest to the raken compound.
Above, one of the giant lizards cast its shadow across the city as it wafted northwards on morning patrol. Followed by three more in each direction. Right on schedule. There would be one hour before they returned, and two hours until the first raken arrived from the closest compound.
The Aviary's outer palisade was guarded nominally by a patrol of Seanchan soldiers along with one of the armored creatures Lore had revealed to be Grolms. They made some periodic stops to investigate large containers, but most of the influx went ignored.
As I walked past a guard, I gave him a nod of courtesy. He looked slightly bored as he replied with a curt greeting and gazed past us.
The inner bailey was a more difficult matter. While the majority of the crowd had their destination in the outer atrium, we needed access to the aviary's heart. Five Seanchan soldiers stood at the small gate, along with a seated functionary sporting a shaved temple.
Lore boldly led us forward, papers flashing in succession towards the bureaucrat. The man pursed his lip as he carefully reviewed the documents, eyes moving across each word. Finally, he looked up and steepled his fingers. "So, what is your business?"
"We are authorized to make an audit of each raken and to'raken within this facility."
"We keep very good documentation here. I make sure of it personally. If you would like to take a—"
Lore leaned over the table, "We would like to review them in person."
"This is extremely unorthodox. I must say I disagree with—"
"Then file a protest. I believe that there is need to investigate possible malicious acts regarding the rakens. You will not stand in the way of my search for the Truth, yes?" Lore tapped the table with something in her hand. It was obscured from my angle, but it looked like a gold plaque of sorts, and it made an ominous thud on the table. Even the guards shifted uncomfortably.
"Of course not." Suddenly, the bureaucrat was nervous. "I will gladly escort—"
"I know the compound." With that, Lore swept through the gate, with us falling immediately in step, leaving a sweating functionary behind.
In the inner aviary, the Seanchan had built enormous tent structures that kept the creatures from the elements. Each tent contained either two rakens and one to'raken and there were a significant amount. A handful of handlers moved about the area, but it appears that it was currently the dead part of the day like planned.
With Lore standing guard outside the first tent, Map and I entered carefully. We were greeted by the two rakens who raised their long necks at our entrance. Green lizard eyes stared at us, their nictitating membranes flashing back and forth. Tied by a long chain to the ground, they were crouching at ease on the dirt. The closest snorted at the unfamiliar scent, and snapped at us with its beak
There was a long trough of water that spanned the center of the tent, as well as piles of various small bones lying about from its previous meal. Lore had provided me with the specs for the creature. Roughly the same mass as a horse, but stretched out. Hollow bones like a bird. Fast and versatile in the air, but clumsy and fragile on the ground. Its exotic look may appear dangerous to the common men, but a warhorse would probably put up a bigger fight than the lizard.
I loosened my cloak, exposing several vials tied by rope around my waist. Each vial was enough to kill a horse within minutes. The raken should have a higher metabolism, but I had doubled the dosage anyway. Redundancy was essential.
"We only have time to dose ten rakens and two of the to'rakens." Map motioned me forward.
I wrapped a scarf around my nose and mouth, and cautiously approached the first raken. Its tongue slithered out at me as it craned its neck to follow my movement. I eyed its claws, its major instrument of defense. Its tail begin to whip back and forth as I got closer. They were probably strong enough to crack bones, but they were not instinctually used that way. I kept my eyes to the ground, acting as harmlessly as I could.
I uncorked one vial and poured its content in the long shared trough, stirring slightly before re-affixing it to my waist. They watched me retreat back towards the gate. One of them took a testing gulp of the water and eyed us with its lizard eyes.
"It's diluted in the trough, but should kick in within fifteen minutes." I explained.
"We can't wait that long to see the results. Move on." Map gestured, and we quickly vacated the tent. Lore followed in step and we moved through the next few tents with similar procedure. So far, undetected. With luck, we won't be discovered until after our departure.
It was time for the to'raken, a somewhat more unusual tent. As I entered, the first warning sign was the body lying on the ground two steps into the tent. Motion flickered at my peripheral prompting me to twist away, taking a heavy blow on my shoulder instead of my neck.
My sword flash, twisting at my assailant until I snapped my wrist back painfully to halt my thrust. Beside me, Map was rolling silently across the floor with her own assailant.
"Bandar, wait." I whispered. I recognized the two men in the tent.
"Stim up." Boss gave me a simple nod of acknowledgement, as I lowered my sword from his chest. On the ground, Map had pinned Stim to the ground, but eased back to allow the medic to re-find his footing. Both Boss and Stim were dressed in the form-fighting leather uniform of morat'rakens.
Lore had peeped in at the struggle, but upon recognizing the two Sabres, resumed her duty outside once more.
"We are here for the same reason, then?" Stim rubbed at his arm and checked his own vials on his belt. "What's that you have there? Looks like shade."
"I tried my best. It's possible that we double dosed the same lizards." It was strange coincidence that brought us back together, although it inevitably makes sense. The raken compound was the major communication headquarter of the region, and would be the primary target of any Sabre operatives.
The to'raken loomed over us, its eyes staring down at us. We did our best to limit our motions so as to not startle him. To'raken were not used for warfare at all, but its massive size and its complement of fangs and claws the size of my arm gave us all pause. Even as awkward as it is on ground, even a glancing and accidental strike could easily kill a man.
"Gideon sea snake venom." Stim dumped his clear poison in the trough and replaced the vial.
"Increasing activity. I think there's going to be an unscheduled activity." Lore whispers through the tent.
"Maintain positions." Boss immediately re-taking command.
There was a rush of footsteps outside as well as raised voices. The tent stirred slightly as if buffeted by a strong wind, and a rustle of leather descending in the distance.
"A messenger." Lore whispered.
"Not good. If it's a standard one, they'll be splitting three more raken riders to the auxiliary compounds." Map explained. "High probability of discovery."
We all glanced at Boss, waiting for his decision.
"Permission to investigate." Lore's voices drifted in faintly.
"Granted." And the shadow at the tent door was gone.
We waited cautiously within the confines of the tent. The to'raken stirred agitatedly behind us. There were loud voices and much movement outside, but we did not risk a glance outside.
Then a flicker of shadow announced the entrance of Lore, who crouched in, glancing up at me and Map standing at the door. Then she slithered in and closed the tent behind.
"They've raised a general alarm. One of the outgoing riders found his mount dead. And it looks like there's troop movement from the outer bailey. Nothing's getting out."
Map was silent for a moment, then her eyes flickered to the to'raken and Lore. I knew what she was thinking. "Have you flown one of those before?"
"I have been a passenger, but never—"
"Learn." Boss interrupted, locking the security clasp on the tent door.
Lore nodded and approached the creature. It has a special harness for supplies and passengers on the back. The problem was that its back was nine foot tall even while crouched. "Distract it." She hissed.
"How? Never mind." Stim ran in front of the creature, kicking a couple bones to rattle towards its talons. The To'raken twisted its massive neck to Stim, eyes boring down on him. Lore immediately dashed forward towards the back and leaped. The creature twisted at the sudden motion, but she managed to grab a hold of the custom saddle and hoist herself up. The to'raken immediately reared up from its crouch, its neck swinging this way and that, its tail whipping at the end of the tent wall.
The noises outside quickly approached the origin of the commotion, and someone attempted to open the door.
Boss flashed his fingers forward. Get on!
As Lore attempted to control the panicking beast, I grabbed a hold of its chain in my hands, straining and pulling down. But the creature was prodigiously strong, and the chain slithered painfully through my grasp. But this gave time for the rest of the Sabres to scale its scaly hide as it shivered below them. It was making loud groaning noises, then it snapped at me, almost decapitating me with its inch long fangs. I ducked, momentarily feeling a thick steam of air above me, and disconnected the chain from the ground spike.
"Open up!" Suspicion turned to alarm. A sword flashed through the fabric of the tent, and hands pulled at the hole enlarging it. Rolling beneath the to'raken, I jumped up, catching hold of Boss' stretched hands and pulled myself on the creature's bucking body.
"Go!" Map whispered.
"Trying." Lore struggled with the reigns but the beast continued to flop about as we clung desperately on to what handhelds we could find. The fabrics finally tore as shouting soldiers began to crawl in. Finally, I slammed the flat of my sword into the rear of the to'raken with all my might. The combination of noise and force finally must have ignited its flight instinct, because its wings immediately flashed out in a gust. The soldiers were blown back by the initial whirlwind, but instead of flying, it propelled itself through the tent wall, rending it to shreds. We burst through into the midst of surprised soldiers, crushing a few below its treads. Before weapons could be drawn, it was galloping down the long runway, finally taking wing.
Below us, soldiers had realized what happened, shouting as we whipped up above them. I pressed my hand tight against the creature's bulk as arrows suddenly tore up into the sky after us. A couple wet thumps testified to hits, followed by pained groans.
The to'raken spun, spiraling through the air, attempting to shake us off its back. A heavy turn nearly sent me whirling into the blue abyss, but I snagged on to a thick leather cord with my right arm. The force threatened to tear my arm from its socket, but I hung on, dangling half a mile above the verdant ground. Then the to'raken righted itself and I slammed hard against its bulk, knocking breath out. I clung on even more tightly.
"Higher!" Boss shouted, the wind whipping his words away.
But instead the creature arched downward and we began to lose altitude.
"To'rakens don't fly if their injured. It's taking us down." Lore screamed as she gripped the reigns so hard that her knuckles were white.
"Fine, lead us to the forest."
"I'm not in control anymore. It's going for that hill." But Lore stopped resisting. Without the force feedback, the to'raken began to fly more steadily but continued to descend. It seemed to have given up on dislodging us for now.
I scanned the compound we had just departed, and saw horsemen riding out, attempting to pursue us. Then one rider and another fell off their horse, tumbling to a stop. Kay, I realized, had seen our flight and was trying to delay the pursuit for as long as he could.
The raken finally landed lightly on the hilltop, and we jumped off its back. It took a cursory snipe at me with its teeth, but I was already rolling out of range. With the pests off its back, it began to nurse the arrow wounds on its flank.
I glanced above us, eyes scanning for the visible sight of rakens scouting for us, but the sky was clear. It seems they did not want to risk any rakens in flight that may have been poisoned. Without their flying scouts, they had no hope of catching us out here, and we made good our disappearance.