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"Get him!" Allic cried, and Pina leaped into the air and disappeared over the side.
The others looked over the edge.
"He'll never reach him in time," Kochanski said. They could all see the boy tumbling, and Pina
desperately trying to close the distance.
"Jesus Christ," Mark whispered. Then, at the very last second, the boy stopped falling and swept out,
rushing low across the landscape.
A cheer went up from the Japanese, and the Americans joined in, as the boy arched up into the sky.
Pina came in alongside, ready to help the wobbly flyer as he regained altitude and finally came back to
land on the cliff.
The Japanese clustered around him, slapping him on the back as he came up to bow to Ikawa.
"You have Bushido," Ikawa said proudly.
The boy gave him a weak smile, then with a gentle sigh he keeled over--out cold.
The men around him laughed, but there was no malice in their tone as they gathered around and worked
to revive their comrade.
"Your kid has guts. I'm proud to be serving in the same group with him," Mark said, coming up beside
Ikawa.
Ikawa turned and Mark could see tears in his eyes. This did not fit any notion he had ever formed of the
so-called cold-blooded, unfeeling Japanese officer. To save Ikawa any further embarrassment, he turned
and walked away.
Allic was obviously delighted by Takeo's courage. Kneeling by his side, Allic touched him lightly on the
forehead. Takeo's eyes fluttered open.
"This thing your commander calls Bushido," Allic said, "it sounds like something to be proud of. Come,
fly by my side as we return to the castle."
Allic stood up and looked at the men. "I don't know if your commanders told you, but there is a little
gathering planned for you this evening back at the castle."
The men looked expectantly at him.
"You see, certain young women have been begging to meet you since you arrived."
There was an electric tension in the air--but in the presence of their lord they were silent.
"There's one girl with flaxen hair that I'm particularly interested in," Allic said, "but the rest are fair game."
"Does that mean we're getting laid?" Walker shouted.
"Interesting phrase," Allic replied, smiling. "We prefer the term 'making joy', but I guess it's the same
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thing."
"So let's go make joy," Jose cried, and the men broke into lusty cheers.
"Follow me then." Allic laughed, and be rose into the air.
The others followed, shouting happily. Allic turned and flew back down the trail.
Mark suddenly understood where Allic was leading them, and his heart filled with anticipation.
They swooped over the Tals who barked excitedly and galloped behind them as they passed.
Allic turned into the arching tunnel of flame-red trees and the men followed one after the other. Mark
broke out of the column, pulling a loop, and then swung into the rear of the line alongside Ikawa.
Side by side they drifted slowly beneath the canopy. The golden-winged birds darted around them,
chirping excitedly, their cries mingling with the happy shouts of men who were learning to slip from the
iron hand of gravity. The lavender scent washed over them, flooding their senses.
Mark looked over at Ikawa, who flew unsteadily by his side. He smiled encouragingly, wondering why
he would feel this sudden warmth for a man he would have killed without a second thought only weeks
before.
But for the moment that was forgotten. There was only the ecstasy of flying, and with it the first true
sense of a bond, as they floated together through the cool shadow-washed tunnel of red-green light.
The light grew stronger as the end of the tunnel came into view. Together they flew out of the shadows
into the broad, sunlit countryside that stretched to the far horizon.
With a cry of unspeakable happiness, Mark soared upwards, rushing straight towards the heavens. He
extended his hand outwards to the sun, as if for that moment he could reach out and touch the light
above.
Sarnak came into the map room and stood for several minutes reviewing the changes that had taken
place since his last visit, several hours before. The map almost entirely filled a large, shallow pit and was
so well made that every time Sarnak stood over it he felt like he was flying over the real thing.
Even as he watched, more of Allic's patrols were noted and shifted to their new locations. Macha, who
ruled the land of Torm along Allic's southern border, had very heavy patrols out, he noticed.
Ralnath walked into the room. "My lord, I have been checking on Wika's progress with the outlander, as
you ordered. Wika is driving him right to the edge trying to make your deadline of three tendays. The
outlander is learning, and they already hate one another, as I'm assuming you wanted."
Sarnak raised an eyebrow. "How refreshing to be so obvious. What's my next move, then?"
Ralnath hesitated, cursing his loose tongue, then forged ahead. "You will want someone to befriend the
poor lad eventually, learn his true worth, and make your plans accordingly."
Sarnak nodded, said, "The assignment is yours," and turned his attention back to the map. "Allic has
finally moved his forces so that we have a clear path to our next target. This move will give Allic more
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pain than he's had in over fifty years, and could very well send him blasting his way into Madia's land
before he's even thought about it."
"Signal Quarth to lead his strike team over the border tonight. I want the attack made at dusk tomorrow.
Target: Dirk. And remind him that I want no one left alive."
Chapter 8
"So, how was last night?" Allic asked, looking across the table at Mark and Ikawa. He had been
wanting to ask all day, since half the town was buzzing with details of the party, but thought it best to wait
until evening when he could share a drink and find out about the previous day's amusements.
There was a moment of embarrassed silence. Mark was not the type of man to share the details of his
bed. Upon their return to the castle he discovered that a feast had been prepared in the garden near the
bathing pools. The girls had been stunning beyond his wildest imaginings--and the imagination of a
bomber pilot could get pretty wild.
Her name was Chloe and it was obvious that she had picked him out long before the party started. Tall
and slender, her hair a tawny auburn, she was the female sorcerer he had talked to at the House of
Healing, where he had stopped to check on Jose the day after their arrival. It was apparent he had made
a most favorable impression because her approach was very simple and direct, leaving no doubt in
Mark's mind how the rest of the evening would turn out.
The men had been decidedly nervous at first, especially with Allic present. He had been all courtliness,
but once he left with the blonde, the party soon turned into a raucous affair, eventually ending in the
bathing area where they went skinny-dipping in the hot spring.
Mark had heard some outrageous stories about the "great Hollywood orgy," as the men were now
calling it, but he had barely listened. It had been quite some time since he had stayed up until dawn
'making joy'.
Mark looked over at Allic, wondering what to say to his lord. He had had a great time, but the whole
thing was still a little bit shocking. Somehow the men had hit it by tagging it a Hollywood party. Things
like last night only happened to guys out in California, or to rich mob chiefs on Long Island. It didn't feel
quite right somehow.
Mark finally broke the silence. "These--ah, well you see, these young ladies who were with us last
night--"
"Yes...?"
"They all seemed like they were from..." and he fell silent.
"I think he means good families," Ikawa interjected.
"Some of the best--nobles or sorcerers all."
"I mean, I don't want to cause any embarrassing situations here," Mark said quietly.
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