Panter's Pride:
Hunted
by T. S. Hubbard
Disclaimer It's still mine. Note: Panter's Pride must be read first, as this is book 2.
Thanks to Thorie for volunteering to proofread yet another story.
Email address: thubbar2@insight.rr.com.- comments welcome.
Chapter Nine
Panter waited as everyone took their seats. With the information Thira had taken they were able to come up with a plan of action. She had ordered all high-ranking personnel to attend this meeting, going as far as to request that Alesia bring Thira with her even if she had no real standing. She rose to her feet as everyone settled into place at the table. Moving to the map that had been hung so everyone could see she faced the row of grim faces. "With the information we gained from the documents Thira brought back we have come up with a workable plan" Panter's face grew foreboding making various people shudder inside at the sight. "Everything said within this meeting is on a need to know basis. We will not tolerate a repeat of what we've just experienced."
Sounds of agreement settled the matter for the interim. There were other precautions being taken but she would reveal them at a later date. "Akil how do we stand with troops?"
Akil sifted through the papers he had brought with him. "Ah, here it is" he muttered to himself. Glancing up he met Panter's inquiring gaze. "With the conscripts we've picked up as we passed and the ones still trickling in daily we are now at two thousand strong"
Surprised at the high tally no one spoke for a long moment. Thira barked out a laugh breaking the silence. "Hell it's not a scuffle anymore, now it's a brawl." Everyone joined in the laughter grateful for the tension reliever.
Panter folded her arms tapping her chin with a finger as she considered her plan. With the additional militia they would be able to carry out several options she had set aside when she found they didn't have the manpower to achieve it with. "Alright, lets go over what we know" Moving to the map she drew a line with her finger then stopped. "We are about here just south east of Hawk's Peak" Picking up a symbol of Tera's crest she pinned it to the map. "Here's the camp Thira discovered" she pinned another marker to the map this time in black. "Tylan is here along with Lanoris" she turned to the watching group. "What do you see?"
"That whoever's running their side of the war's an idiot," Thira said scornfully. "If their doing what I think they are it makes them more vulnerable to assault. Getting up she approached the chart. "I bet we'll find two more camps here and here," She pointed to the left and right of the encampment she had found.
Panter grinned. "I'd bet your right. Ultimately, I want to retake Tylan. After that is complete I'll let you know the plan as we go"
Akil frowned. "Isn't that going to make things rather difficult" He glanced at Tera to see if she had any input. She inclined her head toward Panter telling him without a sound to follows her orders. He nodded slightly then turned back to Panter knowing she had seen what he'd done by the glint that shone in her eye.
"The fewer people who know means less people to tell" Panter watched comprehension dawn on their faces, as they finally understood.
As Thira rejoined Alesia, Panter caught their attention. "So what do you think ready to go on a hunt?" She had to keep back a laugh at the eagerness that appeared on Thira's face.
"Yeah!!" Thira grabbed Alesia's hand pulling her towards the door. She stopped short as Alesia whispered something. "Uh, permission to leave?" She asked reluctantly. Thira didn't believe in a chain of command. It was simply quicker to skip all of it and do what needed done.
Panter turned her back trying to cover a grin. She waved at Tera to take care of it. Tera lifted a hand and shooed them away. "Go, just be cautious. Alesia take a unit with you and anything else you might need." She and the rest of the group broke into laughter after they departed then settled back into the meeting.
*******************
Thira crouched low in the brush as she scented the air around her. Alesia settled at her side quietly waiting until she was finished. It had taken the better part of the morning to get things arranged and to backtrack to the site Thira had discovered. As the going got more difficult it became almost impossible to remain on horseback. Leaving them behind it had taken another hour of travel to get them this far. A small crack behind them had Thira spinning around a dagger cocked back ready to throw. Thrusting the knife back in its sheath, she glared at the dolt who had inadvertently stepped on the stick. She made a zipping motion as the man started to apologize. He subsided waiting for the next order.
"Freaking moron, we should to have left them behind. We can handle it easier ourselves," She mumbled under her breath as she crouched back in her spot.
Alesia looked at her doubtfully. "You did it once and got lucky. There's no way we're trying that again. Besides that, you heard Tera tell us to take a unit along."
Thira grimaced. "I know, but couldn't we have brought all Amazons instead of making half militia?" She complained softly.
Alesia arched a brow. "Why?"
"They make too much noise, at this rate we'll be heard long before we get there" Thira was itching for some action. Dragging the militia along grated on her nerves. She stopped bitching as a soft sound caught her attention. A clasp on Alesia's shoulder alerted her to be prepared. Moving low to the ground Thira signaled to the watching amazons. She opened and closed her fist three times then pointing up spread her arms wide. A nod then without a word the squad split into groups of ten. Rapidly ascending the nearby trees they disbursed, concealing themselves in the thick canopies bows at the ready. A raised finger told the rest of the force to wait.
Easing back over to Alesia Thira grasped her arm. "I want you to take the militia and circle around." She rested a finger on Alesia's lips as she tried to speak. "We have no time. About two hundred yards ahead is the camp we've been searching for. I heard the clanking of a whole lot of steel. They might be readying themselves for that attack Cadmus was referring to." Thira eyes narrowed in pleasure. "I have a plan of sorts. When I signal hit them hard"
"What signal?" Alesia asked puzzled.
"You won't be able to miss it" Thira answered smirking. She kissed Alesia quickly. "Get going there's not much time left" She watched till Alesia disappeared from sight with her escort. Stepping into the nearby trees she blended with the dimness quickly fading from view.
Thira snuck up to the edge of the camp boundary hidden from sight by a large maple. She hadn't run into any sentries but then she wasn't expecting to with the camp busy with preparations. Counting, she could see that there were more soldiers here then in the last camp. Alesia was right but she wasn't about to admit it. Seeing them starting to ready the horses she decided not to wait any longer. Emerging into the clearing she stood with her hands on her hips watching the chaos surrounding her. Just as she was considering killing someone to get noticed somebody finally did.
At his shout all motion stopped. One of them stepped forward. "Who are you and what the fuck do you think your doing here?" She almost laughed when several men behind him attempted to appear menacing as they pulled out their weapons.
Refraining herself from rolling her eyes in disgust, Thira casually folded her arms palming the knives from the forearm sheaths Alesia had presented to her just before they left. When asked about the etching Alesia's only reply was she didn't want her to end up getting killed because no one could identify which side she was on. Thira asked nothing else as she strapped them on. A movement caught her eye. Allowing them to shift she blinked as the distant trees abruptly seemed a great deal closer. The leaves moved in the still air when the branch shook slightly. It was enough of a sign to recognize that the amazons were in position, she only hoped Alesia and her group were.
Shifting back Thira tilted her head. "Have you heard from Cadmus lately?" she asked casually.
The speaker for the group frowned. "Cadmus. No, but if we didn't he gave us the location of where he was meeting his contact. I imagine someplace close to there would be an enemy camp"
"Surprised you could think of that all by yourself" Thira said under her breath.
"Enough of this. Who are you before we just decide to kill you anyway."
"Does this answer your question?" Thira flung her knives just as the sentence ended taking the speaker and the man alongside him in the neck. As they dropped, Thira threw back her head letting out a booming roar. Pandemonium ruled as arrows rained down over the scrambling men. The archers had placed themselves in the shape of an inverted horseshoe with the center point anchored behind Thira's position.
Blood pumping in excitement Thira ran forward. Pulling two more daggers free, she met the oncoming charge. Sensing the arrows as they neared she darted swiftly from side to side. The humming of flight feathers steadily filled her ears as they flew past. Two more knives landed in the abdomens of the approaching enemy, leaving them behind to drop in ever widening pools of blood. A sword swung towards her as she drew closer to the nearest knot of men. Ducking to the side Thira slid behind another soldier hitting him in the side. The small bump of contact pushed him right into the path of the oncoming blade. The other man had no chance to react to the fact he'd just killed one of his own before a dagger slammed into his back.
Thira purred as she jerked her dagger free. She could feel her animal side struggling to break free of the human shell that was incasing it. Thira evaded another sword thrust to the stomach. Seizing his arm when he missed, she slammed her blade into his eye killing him instantaneously. Leaving the blade she extracted another from her harness. Giving in a little to her animalistic side she leapt onto the back of a soldier. Grabbing his head she twisted as she drove the knife into his breastbone. Leaping free of the falling body Thira yanked out two more daggers. She tightened her grip on the weapons as she faced the oncoming men. Just before they engaged a grin twisted her lips.
Throwing her last two knives she was momentarily unarmed. Feeling a rush of moving air at her back she automatically crouched. An axe flew overhead followed closely by the hand that held it. Grabbing it she yanked, hard.
Overbalanced the big man hit the ground but by sheer luck kept his grip on the axe at impact. Rising, he found his target staring at him with a sneer on her face. "What are you looking at bitch?" he yelled.
"A dead man" Thira suddenly twisted to the right.
He didn't get a chance to respond to the strange action before pain slammed unexpectedly into his chest. Looking down he saw two bolts had pierced him just below the collarbone. The last thing he would ever see was Thira waving goodbye as he hit the ground.
*****************
Alesia drew her sword. Making small figure eights she loosened up her muscles, feeling her pulse rise as a sense of excitement flooded her. The militia surrounding her moved restlessly as they reacted to her agitation.
Just as Alesia was wondering if she had missed the signal somehow a deep roar tore through the clearing. Almost without thought she found herself plunging into the melee. The crash of a sword on hers jarred Alesia out of the fog she was in. Spitting into the grinning face of the man intent on stopping her she focused her attention on the fight. Running her blade down his she locked their hilts together. With a hard jerk she disarmed him. As he watched his sword land in the distance he neglected to pay attention to his opponent. It was the last mistake he would ever make as Alesia ran him through.
Taking a second Alesia scanned the vicinity for Thira. Spotting her she worked her way over, rapidly taking care of two more opponents as she went. Thira grinned cockily as she twirled the axe she held in one blood spattered hand. Seeing no signs of obvious injury Alesia relaxed a little as she sheathed her sword. It looked as if most of the fighting was already over. She watched as the amazons dropped from of their trees. They spread out to retrieve their arrows and dispatch what remained of the enemy. No one had given the command to capture prisoners.
"You seemed as if you've had fun" Alesia commented offhandedly.
Thira stiffened for a split second before relaxing. "Yeah, I did. Wasn't much of a challenge. It didn't seem to last long." She seemed mildly upset that it had ended so soon.
Alesia noticed that the vast majority of the body's sported arrows. "Looked as if your plan worked" she commented impressed. "You were right there was no way to miss your signal."
"Marshal" An amazon approached them. "What are your orders?"
"One moment" Alesia said. She pulled Thira to the side. "Do you want to take care of it or would you rather I did?" She didn't want her being dismissed by the troops as insignificant.
"Nah, go ahead. They might not like being ordered about by someone that's not their boss. Besides" The sunlight glimmered on bared canines as she smiled. "I'd rather just fight."
Alesia tightened her grip on the hand that rested in hers. "Alright. Do you want to stay with me?" She released Thira's hand reluctantly.
"Think I might poke through the tents, see what I find." Thira handed the axe to Alesia. "Get cleaned up a bit"
Alesia nodded. "I'll come find you when we're done here." She paused. "If that's ok?" she was pleased to see Thira happily agree with the plan.
She watched as she walked away. Pulling herself back to the situation at hand Alesia turned back to the patiently waiting amazon.
"Do you have a count of how many of our own we lost?"
"No Marshal that is still being determined"
"When it's completed let me know" Alesia ordered. She was still uncomfortable with giving orders but figured she might as well get over it,
Panter had given this position as a symbol of trust. She was going to make damn sure it was never one she regretted. "I want the horses rounded up. Gather all the useful weapons and armor they'll be taken back with us. With all the new conscripts we'll need them. Same thing with any foodstuff you might find. If any tents are salvageable get them too. Use the horses as pack animals if you have to. Get a detail on a group burial for the dead. I don't want to draw all the predators in the area. Our dead are to be taken back with us. If there are any problems come find me." Alesia dismissed her.
The amazon saluted her respectfully then left. Just before she got out of earshot Alesia remembered something. "Captain" she called.
The captain halted. She jogged back over to Alesia. "Marshal, you wanted something?"
Alesia held out the axe. "Here's your first donation" She joked lightly.
Taking it the captain smiled faintly. "Thank you. With your permission I'll go relay the orders," She inquired.
Alesia nodded allowing her to depart. "Captain" she reminded her. "Speed is of the utmost importance right now. There's still another encampment we need to locate"
The amazon saluted and took off in a run intent on getting things completed as quickly as possible.
Alesia departed focused on her own mission. Finding Thira. The chore of cleaning up wouldn't be so bad in her company. Dodging the bodies left on the ground she went to start searching through the tents.
*********************
Thira rummaged in an open crate. She had located what seemed to be the commander of this pitiful excuse of an army. She extracted a handful of papers from inside. About to toss them to the side to resume rummaging something on one caught her eye. Throwing the others aside she read it.
Her features hardened making her cheekbones more prominent. Cursing under her breath Thira crumpled it as she clenched her fists. She heard the rhythmic pattern of Alesia's steps as she approached the tent and bent to look inside.
"There you are" Alesia duck into the tent to join Thira. "What's wrong?" she asked when Thira failed to speak. Spotting the paper in her hand Alesia reached for it. She jerked back as Thira growled and tightened her hold on it.
Thira regretted her actions instantly. Quietly she loosened her grasp, offering the paper to Alesia. She closed her eyes briefly when Alesia flinched. Disappointed with herself she turned her back to Alesia as she read the letter. The news it contained would destroy their relationship. Thira knew what part she was at when Alesia gasped.
"By this time the problem should almost be resolved as I've sent one of my own people to kill her" Alesia read out loud. "He's talking about you isn't he Thira?"
Thira's chest ached with sorrow at the iciness that had entered Alesia tone of voice. She had known this would happen. The thin bond she had with her couldn't stand against the one Alesia had with the most important people in her life, Panter and Tera. She had foolishly ignored the slight chance that they wouldn't have learned this information. For a small moment she wished she had ended it on the night she had failed in her mission. Just before the knife would have entered her stomach something had stopped her. When the tattoo appeared she knew who had.
"You knew why I had come and who my target was," Thira reminded her. "The goddess intervened. She forbade me to hurt Panter. Truthfully, I think I would have died that day if she hadn't."
"Someone like you following a goddess's decree is kind of hard to believe" Alesia tried to hold onto her anger when she saw Thira's shoulders tighten in reaction then abruptly relax.
"You know, I can't even be angry about what you just said" Thira replied sadly. "With my being an assassin I shouldn't have anything to do with the Goddess. So why would I obey her?" She ignored the tears running down her face. "You wouldn't know by seeing me now but I used to be someone that was civilized. I followed the Goddess teachings reverently, I suppose I still do to an extent even now"
Alesia wished she had never read the damn letter. She hadn't been there when Tera had been held hostage and Panter attacked. She'd heard what had happened. After checking on her friends she went to see the woman who'd had the guts to take Panter on and live. Once she had seen Thira something had taken hold of her. Alesia ended up being so conflicted by everything that she shoved her feelings about what happened aside. Now after reading about it the anger unexpectedly flared up. After all that they had been through, after all Thira had done for them for her to treat her in this way was wrong. "Thira" Alesia crossed over to her. She cautiously placed her hands on her shoulders. She held her breath as Thira tensed at her touch. "I'm sorry. I think I know where all that anger came from. Yes, you came for Panter but I thank the gods every day that you stayed."
"Do you?" Thira asked guardedly. She had wondered several times why Alesia had never brought up her trying to kill her best friend. After awhile she didn't want to mention it for fear that this very thing might happen.
Alesia leaned her forehead against the nape of Thira's neck. "Yes" Alesia felt Thira relax a bit at her response. "I never dealt with my feelings about what happened between you and Panter. Once I saw you it seemed as if everything else ceased to matter."
"I know what you mean," Thira snorted. "Even when you infuriated me I still wondered who you were with and what you were doing," She sighed. "I was hoping this would never happen but I suppose it that was a foolish thing to wish for"
Alesia pressed a light kiss to Thira shoulder. " Probably, but then by not saying anything I was doing the same thing myself." Something occurred to her. "Who was the one that sent you to kill Panter?"
Thira pressed her lips together. What had happened was bad but she was unsure how what she said was going to affect them. "I was told it would be an act of retaliation for the ones that had died after she had left."
Alesia frowned. "I was already told that. Why are you reminding me about it?"
Thira pulled away as she turned to meet Alesia's puzzled gaze. "The man that sent me was my father," She said bluntly. She watched Alesia's eyes widen.
"Your what!!!" Alesia's blood seemed to freeze at the impact that statement made on her. Her mind whirled as the implications of what that could mean rose.
"My father." Thira repeated. "My own blood sent me on a one way mission. I doubt he expected me to live though the encounter with Panter."
Alesia nibbled her lower lip as she pondered on what she'd been told. "What do you want to do now?" She asked needing to know how they stood.
"About what?" Thira's eyes seemed to dim as she considered what Alesia was asking. She didn't know if it was the doubt of their relationship or of the standing she had in the fight hurt her more.
Alesia reached out pulling Thira against her. Wrapping her left arm around her waist she grasped her face with the other. Muted eyes met hers. The anguish in them caused her own to moisten. "NO" she said tightly. "I'm not talking about us. I would never allow anything to separate us like that. We might get angry with each other but I refuse to let something destroy our connection."
She found her arms full, as her independent partner seemed to suddenly crumple. Tears dripped on her skin while she shifted her grasp. Tightening her grip she slid her right arm behind the trembling shoulders. Kissing the head close to hers she discovered she was crying too. When she felt the shudders wracking Thira's frame ease she moved back a bit so she could see her face. Damp eyes looked at her as she wiped away the tracks they'd left. "Never worry that I don't love you Thira. There's nothing that could ever stop that." Alesia kissed her. She felt Thira's grip on her hips tighten when it flared with need. They ended the kiss just before they both ran out of air. They leaned their heads together as they rested allowing their pulses to calm down.
"Our timing seems to really suck with this" Thira remarked dryly.
Alesia laughed. "We'll eventually get it right" she promised. She cleared her throat as she straightened letting go of Thira as she did. She stayed silent as she watched Thira move restlessly around the tent. "What are we going to do about your father?" She paused as Thira halted her pacing. " If I understand it right he seems to be the one behind this war."
"He probably is, but I don't believe he's the only one involved. He would have never made the naive mistakes we've seen so far. Someone else is doing them." Frustrated, Thira clenched her hands into fists disregarding the pain that coated her palms. She tilted her head when Alesia's eyes seemed to brighten, as she seemed to come to a realization. "You've thought of something" she commented.
"I think I just might know who that other someone might be" Alesia replied. She made sure she tucked the letter away before moving to Thira's side. She took her hand this time pulling her towards the door. "Come on, we have a lot to do before we can fill Tera and Panter in on what we've found out." They exited the tent to try to help speed up the departure. One more camp still had to be found before they could head back.
Continued...