Chapter 79
Masada
The imperial camp spread three miles deep around Masada. However, there was little sign of an active siege. Imperial soldiers milled about the encampant appearing totally at ease. Barricades had been erected along every road leading to the fort making it impossible for anyone to approach undetected. It was obvious to Silver that the imperials were stationed for the long haul and would simply wait for those inside the fort to starve or surrender. Meanwhile, the besiegers would be constantly resupplied by convoys coming from the city.
Not for the first time, Silver cursed his sister's orders. If his only objective was to infiltrate the base and stow away the Sol Gem, then he may have had a chance. Yet Silver did not see any hope of successfully rescuing the priests. All the same, Silver determined to see his mission through to the end.
Fortune gave them the blessing of a starless night. It was nearly pitch black when they left their hiding place beyond a ridge overlooking the camp. They marched for nearly an hour before they came to the farther side of the spyre. Silver left the others behind and continued alone towards the camp.
Silver moved like a pale shadow across the desert plain. The watchers on the barricade could not see him and those manning the spotlights were too bored and disinterested to spread their lights. Silver took advantage of their sloth and managed to leap over the barricade and enter the camp.
Noiselessly, he crept through the lanes between the tents. It was loud inside the camp as the soldiers all congregated to drink and play cards. Silver avoided crowded areas and crept along until he found an open tent in an isolated corner of the camp. One soldier read quietly while the others looked over their supplies. Silver fell on the imperials like a flash of lighting. The fight started and ended within a few heartbeats.
He pulled the clothes and armor off the unconscious imperials and quickly slank back into the shadows. It was an anxious journey back out of the camp, however no one seemed to notice him.
He leapt back over the barricade and hastened over to the others. Presently, everyone changed into their imperial gear. "I'll do the talking," Silver whispered. In a line, they marched back towards the barricade. Silver and Gawain wore officer uniforms and helmets while Sonic and the prisoners dressed as mere infantry.
At the barricade, the watchers called out to him. The spotlights moved and shone directly into Silver's face. "Halt!" A voice cried. "Why are you out of the camp?"
"Settling a dispute." Silver answered calmly.
The watchman laughed. "Having trouble controlling your soldiers?"
"Not anymore."
"No one is to be out of the camp after nightfall. Don't make a habit of it or I'll have to report you."
Silver made no response and after a few seconds delay, the gate was opened. They passed inside the camp and pretended to go their separate ways. Silver led the prisoners around to the left while Gawain and Sonic went to the right. They passed through the various gatherings of imperials and tried to remain hidden within plain sight. Here and there, Silver picked up on scattered conversations.
"Won't be long now. Mesto will get bored of this game and send us up there. He's never had the patience to match his ego." One soldier said dryly to the other. "Personally, I am hoping to get reassigned out of this province. These Thirteens are the only ones who haven't fallen in line and I don't exactly want to stick around for the crackdown."
Silver kept pushing through the throng of soldiers, his senses primed for any sign of alertness. However, no one took any notice of them. The soldiers were clearly bored with the inactive siege and had dropped their guard.
"I heard the Jackal Squadron got taken out." Whispered a furtive voice. Silver turned his head and saw two captains speaking quietly in a corner. "Headquarters are trying to keep it quiet but there was a battle in Gortorian Forest a few days ago. The sixth legion went in along with Zero but barely any made it out. I heard tell that Zero's body was brought back to the capital. Mesto was furious."
The second captive glanced outward and Silver quickly hid himself back into the crowd. However, he listened closely for the response. "Things won't go on like this much longer. Mesto made himself powerful by supporting the emperor, but he's served his purpose. If he keeps mucking up the province like this, Lord Robotnik will have no choice but to come here himself and set things straight."
Silver could not afford to linger so he lost track of the rest of the conversation. So…Mesto's support isn't all encompassing. He wasn't sure what to make of that information. Mesto was hated by all true sons and daughters of Soleanna, but if the emperor himself were to take charge of the province…Silver put that thought aside. All that matters is the task ahead.
Slowly, but surely, Silver passed through the camp. The path that wound up the great rocky spyre was accessible by a single opening. All along the route there were stone walls and gates made by Silver's great ancestors. The imperials had raised a gate at the path's mouth but had not made any attempt to storm up the spyre.
Sonic and Gawain appeared a few minutes later. "Any trouble?"
Silver shook his head. "So where is this hidden entrance?" Sonic asked. Silver led them all forward until they stood beneath a narrow canopy of rock. Here, various kinds of desert flowers bloomed in a small circle. Silver made sure the coast was clear before placing his hands onto one of the flowers. The surface of the rock gave in and slid beneath the pressure of his touch. A groove appeared which opened up to a small handle. Silver took it with both hands and pulled. The sheer face of the rock wall slid upward revealing a narrow opening. A damp, mildewy scent floated up to greet them.
"Lovely…" Darren commented while holding his nose.
"You first then." Silver pressed the echidna down and Darren crawled through the gap. Gawain went next followed by Maren, and Sonic. Silver went last. When he lowered himself inside, Silver reached out and pulled the handle, closing the entrance and submerging them in darkness.
"Now what?" Darren's voice called from up ahead.
"Crawl forward!"
Silver's quills brushed the ceiling of the tunnel as he crawled. Water trickled beneath his hands and feet and the damp smell grew worse and worse. After a few minutes of slow crawling, the tunnel finally opened up. They stood in a circle within a dark crevice. Silver stripped off his imperial outfit and tossed it aside. With a clench of his fist, Silver tapped into the power laying dormant inside him. Energy swelled outward until balls of glowing aura enveloped his hands. The light allowed them to see where they were.
They stood at the bottom of a great funnel that wound up and out of sight. Silver groped around searching for the rope that would pull them to the top. After a few minutes, he was forced to conclude that it had been cut. "There used to be a pulley system that would have taken us to the fort." Silver said. "If they cut it…they may not have planned on ever escaping."
"Who needs rope when you have wings?" Gawain spread out his wings and floated into the air. "I'll take you up one by one."
Silver did not need his fellow knight's assistance. Using his psychokinetic power, Silver pushed his energy beneath his feet and raised himself into the air. He floated to the top of the funnel and stood upon a platform of stone. Once Gawain had brought up the others, Silver pressed his hands on the roof and felt around until his fingers found a bronze knocker. He pulled back and knocked three times. The sound thundered in the silence.
They waited with their breath held. Silver did not want to break into the fort and cause a panic, but he also feared that those inside had already taken measures to prevent their capture and subsequent torture. He decided to wait at least five minutes and after about three they finally heard rushing footsteps from above. Feed stomped on the landing above and they heard the ringing sound of swords being unsheathed. "You below! State your name and purpose!" A gruff voice shouted.
"I am Sir Silver, the Knight of the Stars, half-brother of the princess Blaze."
Muffled whispers followed this announcement. At last, the trap door was pulled open. Three Clerical guards stood in the light of a flaming torch. "Solaris above…it really is you." Silver recognized the leader at once. It had been three years since Silver had seen his former captain, but he would never forget that grim, scar riddled face. Levi stretched out his hand and helped pull Silver onto the landing.
"I…I don't believe it." Levi's face stretched into a smile that served only to widen his dour features.
Silver didn't believe it either. "You…when we heard what happened at the Citadel…I assumed-"
"I was one of the few that made it out." Levi took Silver by the shoulder and squeezed it. The Guardian of the Church of Solaris was an aged fox with light gray fur. His eyes were dark and narrowed and his long tail swooped around his waist like a belt. He wore light leather armor and a flowing silver cape. Two short swords hung from his belt and a long blaster rifle was slung over his shoulder. "We will speak later, for now I must bring you to Jacob, he is in command here."
Silver nodded and motioned for Levi to lead on. The two other guards remained behind while Silver's company ascended a winding wooden stair up several flights before exiting through a narrow door. This placed them back outside and atop one of the many turrets of Masada. Levi led them around the curtain wall and into the inner court.
The inner keep was guarded by two sentries who were nearly asleep on their feet. When they saw Levi they greeted him with grim salutes. As Silver passed them, he saw that they were young guardsmen, acolytes of the Church of Solaris. The doors opened into a packed entrance hall. It appeared that all the furniture within the keep had been moved here to be placed against the doors as a last defense.
A maroon robed priest noticed Levi and came dashing over to him. "What is the meaning of this? Who are these-" The priest fell silent when he noticed Silver. "Solaris above! Silver!"
"Roran, send for Jacob, he will want to speak to our guests."
The priest nodded and hurried away. Silver glanced around the room and inspected the fort. By the looks of things there were not many defenders here. A few sacks of grain and other provisions lay empty on the ground and all the sleeping mats had been gathered at the foot of the dais. Silver strode forward as something caught his attention.
When he had last visited Masada there had been a long captain's table at the end of the hall atop a four stepped dais. The table was now replaced by an austere wooden throne. Images of fire and phoenixes, symbols of the Church of Solaris, were carved into the wood. They must have brought this from the great Cathedral.
Silver turned away to see Roran returning with another priest. Jacob was taller than everyone else in the room. His large white ears stretched out of holes cut into his crimson hood. Streaks of navy crossed over the red of his cloak to appear as blue flames. The Arch Robe of the High Chantry wore a golden circlet about his brow and a massive ornate scroll was strapped to his back.
He approached Silver and took him by the hands. "Solaris be praised. Erenfel found you didn't he?" Jacob had a wize, feline face with long wiry whiskers. His eyes were a deep orange that were full of energy.
"I just hope I have not come too late." Silver said. "We must leave at once, before the empire decides to end this farce and lay siege to the fort."
Jacob's eyes darted over to Roran. "But…there must be some mistake. Erenfel was meant to bring reinforcements."
"He has. Us."
Jacob did a quick examination of Silver's company and frowned. "Too few…too few. We cannot hold back the empire with a handful?"
"That's not the plan." Silver pulled away from Jacob and addressed both priests and Levi. "We are under orders to bring you back to the Sanctuary, that is where we have taken refuge."
"It will not be easy to slip through the barricade," Levi pointed out. "Not with so many of us."
"Leave that to me." Sonic walked forward and held up his thumb. When Levi continued to look confused Sonic gave him a quick demonstration by speeding around the room so fast he became temporarily invisible. When he reappeared he casually took a bite of a fruit.
"Sonic can speed you and your soldiers out of the fort," Silver explained. "But first you must bring me the Sol Gem."
Jacob took a step away from Silver and clutched his breast. Silver could see a bulge from beneath the priest's robe. "You are mistaken Sir. We are not planning on retreating. Erenfel was meant to bring reinforcements, not an escape plan."
"Have you gone blind?" Silver hissed furiously. "Masada is surrounded, there is no battle to be won here."
"No army has ever lost the fort. Not in the ten thousand year history of our kingdom."
"You don't have an army." Gawain interjected. "And it isn't the hoards of the old Dracia at your gates. You are at the empire's mercy even now. You don't know the weapons they possess. They could turn this entire fort to rubble if it pleased them."
Jacob shook his head in denial. "Solaris gave the fort into our hands. This is to be the onset of our liberation. Before Mesto raided the Cathedral, we had word of his coming. High Priest Leon decided to remain behind while the rest of us readied the great relics of the Church and fled here. Despite death and danger at every turn we have made it. I will not abandon all that we worked so hard to save."
Silver took a breath to try and restrain his anger. "We have not come here for relics…your lives are all that matter now."
Jacob sneered. "You think our lives are so precious to us that we would buy them with the ruin of our heritage? Hopeless or not, it is our duty to defend what is ours. The empire wouldn't dare destroy Masada now. Mesto lusts for our treasures, he will now want them destroyed."
At once, Silver understood the rumblings within the camp. So…is the real reason for Mesto's delay? "It doesn't matter." He said. "Mesto is not the emperor. How long until Robotnik decides he has had enough and chooses to level the fort?"
"We pray that Solaris will give us the time until-"
"There is no time!" Silver's voice echoed in the wide chamber. "Whatever prayers you've whispered they've already been answered. We are here now. I am the Knight of Stars and I command you to do as I say. Pack your things and prepare to leave, we travel as light as we can."
Levi bowed and crossed his arm over his chest. "It will be done." He rose and hurried out of the room.
Jacob and Roran didn't stir. "You cannot give me commands, sir." Jacob referenced Silver's title with contempt. "For too long Soleanna allowed itself to resemble the barbarian nations that encircled us. What is a knight compared to a servant of Solaris?"
"We are nothing without each other." Gawain interrupted, placing himself between Silver and the priest. "This is not a surrender. The Sanctuary is hidden from the empire, at least for the time being. From there we can regroup."
Jacob slowly released his chest and let his arms fall. "Driven into the wild like animals…what does that make of us? What will be left of Soleanna?"
"It's people."
Jacob bowed his head in contemplation. At last, he sighed and spoke again. "I have guessed more than what you have said. You have come along the wings of war and battle. It is the Sol Gem, and the power within that you seek. You believe its power can aid you in battle." The priest pulled up his necklace upon which hung a sparkling pink Sol Gem. "Of all that we have gathered here, you come for the least of our treasures. I will not give up our storied history. It means more to me than life. Perhaps you cannot understand why. But I will not leave without the treasures of the Church."
Silver groaned in frustration. "We don't have the time or manpower to carry anything."
"That is my final word." Jacob pointed to the throne. "The throne of the Arch Curate, the ephod of Goron, the Book of Flames, these will come or I and my Sol Gem will remain."
Silver felt deflated beyond words. A small voice inside him whispered that he could simply take the Sol Gem. Gawain and Silver were more than enough to subdue the rest of the fort. He did not need Jacob's permission. However, that voice was silenced by Silver's heart. He knew that if he went down that road there would be no return.
"Very well then. Bring the treasury here and we will see what can be done." Silver turned and walked over to Sonic. "For now, you should begin ferrying as many as you can to safety."
Sonic accepted the order and within an hour, Levi presented those who were in the worst condition for travel. Many of those in Masada had the look of those who were the walking dead. Despite Jacobs ' pretense, it was clear to Silver that many in the fort had already given up. When Silver told them that they would be taken away to safety, light sprang back into their eyes. They groveled on the ground, thanking Solaris, Silver and everyone else.
That night, Sonic began his exodus. Again and again, he took a guard or priest down the secret tunnel and sped them out into the desert. It only took him half an hour to take the dozen that would not return with the others. Maren and Darren were forced to remain behind as Silver still did not trust them. He knew he would eventually have to let them go, because he absolutely refused to allow them near the Sanctuary, but he wanted this mission over before he took the risk.
Jacob piled the most treasured relics within the entrance hall. Taking them out of the fort would not be an easy job. The throne alone required at least eight hands to carry. There was no chance of Sonic speeding them away and Jacob absolutely refused to be separated from his treasure.
Eventually, Silver was forced to admit that they would not be ready to depart that evening. So he called for everyone to sleep and they would leave the fort the following night. Silver took up first watch and he stationed himself on the forward facing wall. It was a relief to get outside again. The inside of the fort was stuffy and smelled like the old and unwashed.
No stars twinkled overhead and the desert that stretched out in every direction was hidden in darkness. The only lights were those coming from the imperial camp. Silver could not suppress a shudder as he examined it. While the camp appeared small from this height it was not any less expensive and intimidating. And this is just a small finger. The true breadth of the imperial army could have covered the entire desert ten times over. A sense of hopeless doom fell upon Silver. For the first time, he truly wondered if his home would be taken forever.
"It takes your breath away. Doesn't it?" Levi appeared at Silver's side. "I have often wondered if this is how Berren the Bold felt when he saw the hoards of Dracia swarm around him. With only his loyal company of five hundred companions, how did he hope for victory against such odds?"
Silver shook his head. "I don't know."
Levi put an arm on Silver's shoulder. "I remember you as a lad. You always wanted to hear another tale of Berren. Even in the middle of practice. You knew all the songs of him and his companions by heart."
"I was young. I thought the world was a song or a story."
"Perhaps it is," Levi said thoughtfully.
"Then it is a grim one." Silver placed his hands on the battlements and gripped the stone. "What chance do we really have? If I look past the task ahead and try to see some means to victory…I…" Silver was surprised to hear himself talking this way. He composed himself and took a deep breath.
"Do not be ashamed of fear. It is perhaps the one thing I never managed to teach you. Never has a student advanced as quickly as you. Even Barren the Bold would not have wanted to cross you in a fight. Yet that skill also meant you rarely had to deal with fear. Do not see it as a crutch or weakness, nor mingle it with despair. Fear is what gives us the drive to fight as hard as we can. Fear means we still have something to lose, that we still have hope."
Silver smirked and shook his head. "Why do I always feel like I am a child again when you're around?"
Levi chuckled. "It is the effect of masters I'm afraid. We never truly outgrow the need for instruction and guidance."
"And what is your guidance now? The priest risks all our lives. I could take the Sol Gem by force if I wanted. Yet that doesn't feel like the right course."
"No, that would do more harm than good in the end. I will not tell you what to do, only that I trust in your character." Levi patted Silver on the shoulder again and turned away.
"I am glad to have found you,." Silver added. "I will need more of your guidance in the wars to come."
Levi left the battlements and Silver spent the rest of the watch alone. Three hours later, Gawain relieved him and Silver went inside the keep to rest. Everyone slept inside the main hall. Mats were spread all along the ground. Jacob slept at the foot of the wooden throne, his hand placed within his robe, no doubt clutching the Sol Gem. Silver ignored this and laid down. He expected his anxieties to keep him up, but he drifted quickly into dreams.
Memories played out before his eyes. Silver saw glimpses of his childhood and reflected upon hot summer days training under Levi's careful guidance. He smiled in his sleep as the pleasant memories of days gone by washed over him. Until suddenly, they were interrupted by a piercing scream.
Silver jumped awake. Everyone in the hall was scattering in different directions. Gawain was shouting something. Roran was weeping on the floor. Silver turned towards the dais. Jacob sat on the throne with his head slumped to his side. Blood trickled from his mouth and pooled onto the ground beneath. Silver raced over and saw that an empty chain hung limply in the priest's dead hands. The Sol Gem was gone.