Chapter 72 – The Face of the Undead

"Three hundred thousand potch," Shu announced, leaning over his little table, eyes boring into Flik's.

Rather than meet that gaze, Flik quickly took in Shu's room. Before, the strategist had used the excuse that he was still moving in to explain the mess. If anything, the room was even messier now. The boxes were still in their corner, but the walls had been plastered with papers – maps, actually. Flik studied them out of the corner of his eye, interested and confused by what he saw. He understood the arrows snaking north from Dunan Castle, entering Greenhill Province from the south. That was an obvious first move for the New State Army.

But after that – the arrows raced north into Matilda, then east into Highland itself. Other arrows described feints into East Muse and the city of Coronet. What was Shu thinking? Matilda was officially neutral. Did he have some plan to change that, or was he simply going to invade anyway? Even more audacious, to Flik's mind, was the idea of attacking Highland without first securing Muse Province. If the campaign succeeded, they'd certainly have victory, but if it failed…they'd be cut off in the middle of enemy territory. It was not a pleasant thought.

"Three hundred thousand potch," Shu repeated, catching Flik's attention, "that's how much we've settled on. All of it in coin, mind you. They won't accept promises on paper. You have no idea how this will affect our army's finances."

Flik's anger got the best of him. Now he matched Shu's stare. "There's no way in hell that the damages are worth that much!"

Shu stood up straight. "Ah, but you don't know that, do you? You didn't send any men over to find out, did you?"

That cut the momentum out of Flik's anger. He sat back down in his chair. "No, I guess I didn't."

"You were two busy playing the self-righteous hero to remember that it's your duty to investigate all sides of the claim."

"They don't deserve the money," Flik replied, a bit petulantly. "I'm certain that my men rescued her from an abusive situation."

"That is not the job of the New State Army," Shu answered. "We have civil courts for abuse cases."

"I wonder if she would've chosen that route," Apple mumbled, frowning. Flik wondered too. Most of the women he knew would never have accepted an abusive relationship. Certainly Odessa wouldn't have. He couldn't even imagine Apple accepting that sort of life, but that didn't mean that other women wouldn't.

Shu sighed and sat down in his chair. "All I ask is that next time you exercise better judgement. Meanwhile, we have to plan on how to contain the damage."

"Contain?" Flik asked.

"Indeed. You don't think I'm going to let them extort potch out of this army and get away with it?" Flik gaped, listening to Shu speak. "I've already given Richmond a contract to dig up as much dirt about them as he can find. Rest assured, if it's there, he will find it. I'll turn opinion against them so quickly that they'll be out of the city by the end of next month. Possibly out of the country."

"Why?" Flik asked, aghast. "I don't want that kind of revenge."

Shu's tone was cold. "It has nothing to do with justice, and little to do with you. The New State Army simply cannot afford to pay every person who claims a grievance against us, not at that rate. So, I must make an example of them, all because you failed to do your duty properly."

Flik looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry."

"If it helps, know that they won't go into exile in poverty. Now, look up, Flik. I need you to be ready to lead your men out, this very day, so stop wallowing in guilt."

Shu's words and impatient tone brought Flik's head back up. "You're sending me out? Where?"

"The Wingers have brought news from Drakemouth. They've seen zombies gathering in the mountains around that town. We have to go now and secure it, lest Ridley and Riou get cut off from the rest of Jowston."

Flik jumped up from his chair, relieved that Shu still trusted him enough to go help Riou. "I'll get on it right away, sir."

"Apple and I are coming with you. This situation is developing far too rapidly for me to be comfortable here in the castle. Go ahead and get your men ready, Flik."

Taking that as the dismissal, Flik ducked around the potted plant and out the door. He was feeling the sting of Shu's lecture, but he was more upset with himself. Once again he'd let his emotions get in the way of his judgement. He shook his head, walking down the stairs towards the entrance hall. His actions had felt right, but that didn't make them right. When he arrived at the barracks, Flik found another unintended consequence of his actions.

"Captain, I'm getting married!" one of his men shouted.

"I'm getting hitched too!" another announced.

In an instant, Flik was bombarded with nuptial declarations. A dozen expectant men gathered around him, waiting for his response.

"That's great, guys." Flik smiled. "I'm glad to see that you're taking responsibility for your emotions. Now saddle up, because we're moving out to help Lord Riou in Tinto." Disappointment flickered across several of those faces, but then the senior sergeants, having heard the orders, got the soldiers moving. Flik was torn between amusement and annoyance. Did the men really believe he was handing out promotions as wedding gifts? He'd promoted John because the ranker had shown promise in organizing and carrying out his little raid, not for any other reason.

News that his men were departing spread throughout the castle in a hurry. About halfway through the preparations, Tengaar and Hix burst into the barracks. "Is it true that Shu's sending you away as a punishment for what you did, Flik?" Tengaar asked. Anger was written clearly on her face, while Hix was frowning with worry.

"How did you hear about this?" Flik responded, tightening the straps on one of his saddlebags.

"Leona was talking about it," Tengaar answered. Her expression suddenly turned to a smile. "I think what you did was very noble. Any 'True Warrior' would be proud of you." Her face went back to irate in an instant. "All that strategist ever seems to think about is potch. There is no honor in him at all."

Hix looked around nervously. "You shouldn't say such things here. Besides, Lord Riou has faith in him."

Flik laughed, then muttered, "What game are you playing with me, Shu?" This made Tengaar and Hix both look at him, questions obvious on their faces. Flik laughed again. "He's sending me after Riou and Viktor. It looks like there's some trouble in Tinto. If sending me back into action is Shu's punishment, then I'm glad for it."

"It's that nasty vampire again, isn't it?" Tengaar practically growled. "Don't ask me how I know, Flik. I know exactly what zombies appearing in Tinto means, even if no one tells me."

"I wasn't hiding it from you," Flik lied. "You know how dangerous Neclord is, so I didn't want you worrying about him."

"Don't condescend to me," Tengaar snapped. "I want him dead, Flik, and we're coming with you to make sure you and Viktor do the job right!"

"You didn't tell me that," Hix mumbled.

"Well now I am," Tengaar retorted. "Pack our bags, because we're joining Flik again."

"I haven't approved that," Flik said.

Now it was Hix's turn to surprise him. "But you made us members of your unit, right? You can't march off to fight and leave us behind. I'm a…warrior; I'm not afraid of zombies." There was a slight tremor in his voice, as if he were trying to convince himself of this.

Tengaar wrapped her arms around him. "Of course you're not. You're going to be a great warrior, Hix. I know it."

"I'm not leaving you two behind, not if you're set on joining us. Just remember that you're under my command," Flik admonished. "I expect you to follow orders." They both nodded. "Okay. Tengaar, you're going to want to change-"

Nina dashed through the still open door. "Sir Flik, is true that that meanie Shu is sending you away? Is it true that you stood up for that girl's marriage to one of your men?" Without waiting for an answer, she crashed into him, throwing her arms around his chest. "That's so romantic!"

Flik sighed, then opened his mouth to explain, knowing that there was no way from dissuading Nina from coming along with him. Not when she'd stood beside him and faced Luca Blight. Tengaar smirked and commented, "I hope she can keep up on horseback."

Before noon, Flik's augmented company, plus Shu and Apple, was on the road, riding south from Dunan Castle. The weather had turned stifling again, with a wind like an open oven blowing in Flik's face. Sweat stung his eyes and plastered his hair against his scalp. The heat also meant that the pace had to be slow, or else they'd arrive at Drakemouth without a fighting force. At least fresh water was plentiful, as the road bordered the wide and languid Granias River.

Late in the afternoon, they arrived at the bridge that spanned the river, the crossing from South Window to Two River. It was a long, concrete viaduct of many arches. During the Highland invasion of South Window, the Two River side had been partially demolished and had only been recently repaired. Flik led his men across, struck by how the arches and their reflections formed long ovals in the flow. The water at the far shore seemed to glow with fire from the setting sun.

Once on the other side, he had his men prepare to camp for the night. Nina had held up well during the ride, but once down from her horse, she fainted. Tengaar shrugged and ordered Hix to carry her inside one of the tents. She and Apple disappeared after Hix. Moments later, Tengaar escorted Hix back out. "We'll look after her," Tengaar said. "Can't very well trust a man to this job anyway."

Flik tried not to let the worry show on his face. "Thanks." He watched Apple emerge from the tent, carrying several towels in her hands. She headed off in the direction of the river.

Rather than wait by the tent for any news, he joined Shu, Hix, and his senior sergeants for a meal of stew. Flik listened with half an ear as the sergeants detailed the status of the unit. He was very conscious of Shu sitting with them. When the report was finished, Shu quietly said, "You will have to push harder tomorrow, Flik. We must make Drakemouth by sundown."

"If the weather's as hot as today-" Flik could feel himself frowning "-we'll arrive strung out and exhausted."

"A risk I'll have to take. The Winghordes will tell me in the morning if we're already too late."

Flik's frown deepened as he worried about Viktor. To get his mind off that, he changed the subject. "Were you the one who told everyone about my 'punishment'?"

"Of course. You will go out the martyr and come home the hero who helped save Tinto. I can't imagine a better set of circumstances to make you look good in comparison to your accusers. Richmond has already given me his preliminary report. I'll run them out of the city within a week of our return."

Flik's frown twisted into a grimace. Shu spoke so casually of building up and breaking reputations. Was Tengaar right about the strategist, that he was a man without honor? Flik excused himself to make one last inspection of the camp before turning in. The evening had become muggy, and he could hear the mosquitoes buzzing around him. He slapped when one bit him on the wrist, knowing that it would do no good.

Tengaar stood outside of Nina's tent, waiting as Flik approached. When he inquired about Nina's health, Tengaar answered, "She'll recover, but I don't know how she'll hold up tomorrow."

Flik nodded. Here was something else to worry about that he ultimately had little control over. "Thanks for looking after her," he replied. He started to turn away, but Tengaar stepped around to block his way.

"Send her back to the castle," she demanded. "She's not ready for what's coming."

Flik pondered that. "Well, the weather could be better in the morning. If not, we'll just have to make sure she gets enough water. I'm going to have everyone carry extra."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it!" Tengaar answered, pointing at him. "She's not ready to face zombies. What'll happen if she runs off in the middle of battle?"

He crossed his arms. "She did well enough when we were facing Luca Blight. She's got a water rune, which will be helpful with injuries. As long as she's willing to follow orders, I'm not going to send her away."

Tengaar puffed out an angry breath. "She's a twit who thinks she'll be able to get into your pants if she stays close enough to you. And all you're doing is encouraging her."

"I am not," Flik argued, putting his hands on his hips. "I've made it very clear that I'm not interested in her."

"Are you sure?" She smiled sardonically. "She seems to think you are. Maybe you're the sort of man who likes a little female attention. Maybe you're the sort of man who will string an idiot girl along because it strokes your ego."

"I have only ever cared for one woman," Flik seethed. How did Tengaar know exactly which buttons to push? "Odessa is the only woman I've ever cared for. Odessa is the only one I've ever wanted."

"Then tell Nina that." Tengaar gestured back towards the tent. "Crush her hopes now, Flik, rather than let them keep growing."

That sounded like something Viktor had told him. Thinking it over in his head, he knew it made sense. But when he opened his mouth, he said, "She'll figure it out eventually. I don't want to hurt her."

He turned and walked away, ignoring Tengaar when she shouted, "Coward!" In truth, he didn't want to deal with it. He'd ignored Kimberly, and she'd taken the hint. He'd ignore Nina too. That would work. It had to. He found his tent and tried to sleep in the stifling heat.

It was warm the following morning. The rising sun was a distant specter of red, partially obscured by clouds on the eastern horizon. As Flik's men were forming up in the growing light, a pair of Wingers swooped down out of the sky, conferred with Shu and Apple, and took to the air again. Flik kept his face a mask of calm as Shu walked over.

"Drakemouth is clear, but the mountains are crawling with the undead. We must reach the town today if we are to have any hope of securing communications with Riou." Shu paused only to mount his horse. "Ride hard, Flik."

Flik spared one sweeping glance at his command. Many of the new faces were already exhausted from the previous ride. Tengaar had placed herself near Nina. Both girls regarded each other coldly. Hix, on Nina's other side, shuddered involuntarily. "You heard the strategist," Flik said. "We move!"

They did, riding at a trot for the greater part of each hour, slowing to rest the horses briefly, then picking up the pace again. The sun rose out of the cloud cover and the day turned instantly hot, as if someone had pressed a switch. The road, little more than a rutted dirt trail, passed directly west, through the woods and marshes that Flik remembered from his travels to rally the kobolds. The way was mostly clear, but every so often they had to slow to remove fallen trees from across the path. He caught glimpses of old houses, little more than stone shells, remnants of a time when this land was worked, before it had fallen on hard times.

In the afternoon they left forest and fen behind, the road rising up and joining the thoroughfare between Two River City and the Kobold Village. Their heading turned south of west. The sun beat directly down on Flik. He could feel his skin protesting the heat. He and his men drank the extra water they'd gathered in great gulps. That didn't prevent some of them from collapsing. They'd brought remounts, but horses staggered from exhaustion regardless. To the right, the Forest of the Unicorn seemed to shimmer in the heat, almost a phantasm on the landscape. Directly ahead, the mountains of Tinto grew larger and larger.

Eventually, the shadow of those mountains reached out to engulf Flik's men. Though the sun's warmth was no longer oppressive, Flik could feel heat radiating off the road, horses, and his own skin. They passed several small villages where the people eyed them warily. Though this was part of Two River Province, the people working this semi-arid land were not unlike those of Tinto. They had never felt the threat of Highland. They had no reason to trust the New State Army now.

Drakemouth was the westernmost of these towns, indistinguishable from the rest save that it occupied one end of a pass through the mountains. Flik was glad that his destination was finally in sight. He was exhausted, and didn't fancy riding through the night. His skin felt sticky, covered with dust that had mixed with sweat and dried in place. Behind him, in the fading light, he could see that his men were in a similar condition. Rest would do them all good. However, before they could enter the village, they ran into a welcoming committee of the local militia.

They were a ragtag force of thirty, teenage boys and old men, armed with simple spears. Their leader cut a better figure, a tall, well-muscled man with his dark hair tied back at the nape of his neck. A former bodyguard or bravo, Flik decided, but not a trained soldier.

"What do you want?" their leader asked, giving them a scowl that was missing a few teeth. "We let one group of your boys through. Most of our young men already left to join your silly war. So what more can we do for you?"

Shu approached on horseback to play the diplomat. "We've received word that your village is in danger. We are here to help you defend it."

The leader spat on the ground. "Ain't seen no danger around here. Your war's a long way to the east, I reckon. As for anything else – bandits or wolves – we can handle it ourselves."

"Can you handle zombies?" Flik asked suddenly, angry at being blocked from his goal. "Can you handle the undead rising out of the ground at your feet and reaching for you with hands covered in worms? Can you handle a foe that attacks relentlessly, even with a sword in the guts or a missing arm?"

The men of the militia murmured. Some of them looked deathly afraid. Their leader snapped, "I have no time for things out of children's tales. I've traveled the world for years and never seen such things."

Flik glared. "So have I, and I have seen such things."

Shu cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, let's not argue. I am only asking that you host us for a few days, no more than ten at the most. If the threat is nothing but our fancy, then we'll soon be gone. If there really is something out there, you'll be glad of our company."

"Even ten days is a long time, out here," their leader mused. "Where will your men stay if we let you in?"

"On the village commons," Shu answered. "Your people won't have to quarter us, and we will pay for our food in potch."

Their leader snorted. "You government types are all the same. You don't even think about us except when you need something from us." He shrugged his shoulders. "It's not like we can stop you, if it came to a fight. Come in, and we'll see what your promises are good for." Flik waved his soldiers forward, ordering them to set up a camp in the village center. He watched Tengaar, Hix, and Nina go by. All of them were beat from the ride. Nina had quite a sunburn on her face. After they were past, Flik turned to catch up with Shu and the militia leader, who'd gone ahead.

"Have you sent men into the hills?" Shu was asking.

The leader was studiously ignoring Shu, but acknowledged Flik as he rode up. "The name's Ray. I know who you are, judging by your blue clothes, but who's this jerk here trying to tell me how to do my job?"

Having observed Shu for some length, Flik knew that the strategist bristled from that comment, but Shu's tone remained polite. "Your job includes taking the necessary precautions to make sure this village is safe. Part of that is sending scouts out to see about any threats."

Ray snorted. "Zombies? Listen, the most we ever see are those bandits from their fort in the mountains. Our barricade is good enough for them." He gestured to the far side of the town, where Flik could see a wooden palisade and a couple of bored guards at a gate.

"Has anybody been up into the hills lately?" Flik asked. "Has anyone disappeared recently?"

"People go up into the hills all the time. Everybody wants to try their luck at a little prospecting." Ray shrugged his shoulders. "Ain't nobody out there keeping track of them all. You could be dead for years up there and nobody would miss you."

"What a thoroughly inefficient way of doing things," Shu quipped. "All of that lost tax revenue. Things will have to change in the future."

"You should increase the guard on the gates," Flik suggested, as politely as he could.

Ray whirled around, looking up at Flik with narrowed eyes. "I know how to run my men! I've been at this job for a decade, so I know what's up in the mountains. I don't need some idiot who's been here for a quarter hour trying to tell me what to do." He turned again, stalking off into the darkness. "Zombies! Pah! Next thing you know, they'll be telling me we're under attack by Do-Re-Mi elves!"

A cool wind picked up, flowing down off the peaks. Flik thought he could detect a faint moaning sound in it. Shu sniffed at the breeze and calmly said, "I suppose I don't need to tell you how to do your job either?"

"I was thinking of doubling the normal watches," Flik offered. Shu nodded, then turned his mount towards the village commons.

The men were hungry, but also exhausted, so dinner was eaten quickly. Flik set the rotation for the sentries and was preparing to go to bed when he glanced over at the gates. Only one guard was there now. Flik shook his head in exasperation and walked over to the palisade. The wooden structure came to Flik shoulders, high enough to deter casual attacks, but not enough to stop a determined force. The watchman was a boy, maybe as old as Riou.

Flik ignored him for the moment, staring out at the mountains and forests, which gave off a faint red glare from the rising Scarlet Moon. The wind was in his face, cold enough to make him shiver for the first time in months. The gate, barred and locked, rattled slightly with the breeze. He could also hear that moan again.

The guard shuffled uneasily on his feet and asked, "What're you looking at?"

"Nothing. Is it always like this?" The guard gave a noncommittal grunt, so Flik tried a different tack. "What's your name?"

"Kokto," the youth answered. His expression suddenly became brighter. "Are you really with the State Army?"

Kokto's enthusiasm made Flik smile. "Yeah. You interested in joining?"

"I'm too young. The elders won't let me leave until next year."

Flik turned his head slightly so that Kokto wouldn't see his expression. He remembered being that age and his burning desire to get away from Warrior's Village. He almost opened his mouth to tell the boy to leave now, head out for Dunan Castle, and sign on. Then he shook his head. No, he didn't want this boy to have to cut all of his ties like he'd done. "You'll get your chance." He looked back into Kokto's bright, eager eyes. "Then, when you get back, you can hold your head up high and the girls will be all over you."

"You think?"

"Positive." Flik glanced back out over the palisade. "So, you got any buddies watching with you?"

Kokto grimaced. "They were supposed to be here, but I guess they bugged out on me. Nobody likes the night watch. Besides, nothing much ever happens."

Now it was Flik's turn to grimace. "I'll tell you what. I'll get some of my men to stand watch with you. You'd like that, right? They could stay up with you, tell you stories about the military life."

"You'd do that?"

"Sure." He turned to walk away. "I'll send a couple right up." He waved back to the boy, then went to his camp to roust out a couple of unfortunates to watch with the boy. After giving them their instructions and telling them whom to wake to replace them, Flik sought out his own tent and lay down on his cot.

He couldn't sleep. Even muffled by the canvas, he could hear the wind and that eerie moaning. He was sure it was simply a natural occurrence, but it unnerved him. Of course, the lax security unnerved him even more. He shifted carefully onto his side, searching for a comfortable position. His muscles, not having had much rest recently, complained to him. The skin on his nose was starting to peel.

The wind increased in intensity, making the canvas flap, making that incessant moaning louder. To add to that, something wooden started rapping, a constant knocking noise. Flik groaned, rolled onto his stomach and grabbed for his cape, trying to stuff it in his ears. That knocking sounded much like a gate having come loose and whacking against a fence.

A cold shiver convulsed Flik's body, blasting all thoughts of sleep out of his mind. It was a gate, the gate to the palisade, open in the wind! He started to get up, but nearly choked on his first good breath of air. It was foul, filling his mouth with the stench of rotten flesh. Flik's fingers found his sword and shield, and then he was on his feet.

"Up! Up!" Flik shouted. "We're under attack!" His legs were carrying him towards the opening of his tent. He stepped outside into the night air.

A pair of cold, bony hands wrapped around the warm flesh of his throat, squeezing the air out of his mouth. Flik could feel his pulse beating frantically against the pinpricks of sharpened nails.

He was staring into the face of the undead. Its skin was black and grimy with earth. Its nose and eyes were nothing but gaping holes. Its mouth was split in a grin of pointy yellow teeth as it tightened its grip on Flik's throat.

Flik's vision began to blur.