Chapter 5: A Change in Plans

They were finishing a quick breakfast when someone pounded on the front door. Edoru shot his uncle a look as he rose to answer it. A terse silence quickly fell over the room.

Edoru quickly stepped away from the door. “Elder Tarwin, please enter.”

A tall, gray-haired man brushed past Edoru without looking at him. Ibdi followed her father inside. Any trace of her usual exuberance was gone, leaving a pale, serious young woman.

“What brings you here, Tarwin? My son isn’t supposed to appear before the Council for a few more hours.”

“Your son is the least of my worries at the moment, Dwega Brioch. Tirsia had a vision. We have been betrayed somehow. The Empire is moving to destroy us once and for all.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” Monea said.

Tarwin glared at her. “Every vision Tirsia has had has come to pass. Why should we doubt her now?”

“There’s a first time for everything,” Dido said. “What does the Council propose we do?”

“Evacuate everyone.”

“That’s a massive undertaking,” Scylla stated. “I understand this is the largest settlement in the Resistance. It will take time to evacuate everyone here. And it will be hard to hide that large a migration.”

“We don’t have the luxury of time,” Ibdi declared.

Tarwin frowned at his daughter for her forwardness, but she refused to back down. They did not have time for her father to toy with Ren and the others. They had people to save.

Edoru sat down beside her. “Ibdi, how much time do we have?”

“A day at the most, if Tirsia has interrupted the vision correctly.”

“And what do you want from us, Tarwin?” Ren asked. “What has the Council decided?”

“We will begin dispersing the populace immediately. However, we will need some people to stay behind to slow the Empire’s forces and to help ensure their escape.”

“And the Council has volunteered us,” Ren finished, shaking his head.

“That’s a suicide mission, Tarwin!” Ulei cried. “You and the Council can’t ask people to do that!”

“The Council isn’t asking.”

Leda stood up. “The Guardians and the Sailors are not under your control. From what I have seen, the Council has very few men at its disposal, especially for a task like this.”

“The Council can manage with or without your help.” He turned to Ibdi. “Don’t forget what you are to do, daughter.”

“I won’t forget.”

Tarwin stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Ibdi winced at the noise. Edoru squeezed her hand.

“How many soldiers will the Empire send, Ibdi?” Leda asked.

The girl shook her head. “I don’t know. Tirsia only said she saw the largest single force the Resistance has faced.”

“We can’t abandon these people to the Empire,” Dido said. “We are Guardians of Cignus.”

“We will stay and fight.” Leda sighed. “However, this alters our plans.”

“Considerably,” Cassandra agreed.

* * * * *

Edoru leaned against his favorite tree in the yard behind the house, hoping for a few moments of peace. The others were still in the house debating the placement of their forces. He could occasionally hear raised voices over the sharpening of his blades, indicating that the discussion was sometimes heated.

“Edoru?”

He glanced up, blade stilled against the sharpening stone. However, at the sight of his visitor, he relaxed. He even managed a small smile.

Taking the smile as encouragement, Ibdi stood beside him. She began to play with the bark and the twig in her reach. “I hope I’m not bothering you.”

“You’re not bothering me, Ibdi.”

She glanced back the house. “I keep expecting your mother to come out and find some chore for us to do.”

He glanced at the house as well. His mother had already been evacuated. It seemed so strange to be home without her there. “I know what you mean.”

“She’ll be okay,” Ibdi said, covering his hand briefly with her own.

“I know.”

They stood in silence. Edoru resumed sharpening his blades. Ibdi leaned back against the tree, idly watching him. She could almost forget what they would be doing in a few short hours.

However, Edoru wouldn’t let her. “What did your father mean? What are you to do?”

She sighed. For a moment, Edoru thought he would have to ask again. But then she said, “I’m in one of the last evacuation groups, reserving as a rear guard.”

“Guarding your father.”

“No, he and the Council have already left.”

“The coward.”

“He’s my father, Edoru!”

“He’s left you to fight while he saves his own neck.”

“The Council’s too important to be risked.”

“Is that their opinion or yours?” he demanded.

“I can handle myself, Edoru! You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Of course I’ll worry about you!” He grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. However, his anger quickly left him. She wasn’t the one he was angry with.

He looked at her with a crooked grin. “Are you saying you aren’t going to worry about me, Ibdi?”

She smiled back in spite of herself. “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.”

“Tease.”

“Hothead.”

“Nag.”

“Wimp.”

“You can’t use that fight back when we were nine.”

“Ashamed to have been beaten by a girl, Edoru?” Her green eyes twinkled with confined laughter.

“Not if it’s you, Ibdilesa.”

The light, joking mood was quickly changing into something else. They were too close, and Edoru still had her arm. His eyes bore into her, refusing to release her as well.

“Now who’s the tease?” she asked, her breath fanning his face.

This was not how he had planned it. However, they would soon go their separate ways. Gods only knew when they would see each other again.

The kiss was quick, a brief melding of lips. He stepped back and watched her expression. Edoru swallowed hard when her eyes opened and met his.

She gently traced the scar on his neck. “You’d better stay safe,” she whispered.

He reluctantly stepped back and pressed something into her hand. “Here, take it.”

Ibdi stared down at the dagger. It was the one Edoru had been sharpening. “What is this for?”

“There are some fates worse than death,” he said, his voice quiet. “Please be careful.”

A cold shiver ran through her. ‘He’s thinking of his mother,’ she realized. Trying to forget the sensation, she took the dagger.

“I have to go soon,” she murmured.

He reluctantly nodded. “I know.”

Before he could blink, Ibdi leaned forward and kissed him. He raised his hands to pull her close. However, she was already pulling away. When he opened his eyes, she was already walking away.

Duty called. He walked toward the house, doing something he hadn’t done since his father died. He prayed, prayed to any god that would listen.


A Change in Plans They were finishing a quick breakfast when someone pounded on the front door. Edoru shot his uncle a look as he rose to answer it. A terse silence quickly fell over the room. Edoru quickly stepped away from the door. “Elder Tarwin, please enter.” A tall, gray-haired man brushed past Edoru without looking at him. Ibdi followed her father inside. Any trace of her usual exuberance was gone, leaving a pale, serious young woman. “What brings you here, Tarwin? My son isn’t supposed to appear before the Council for a few more hours.” “Your son is the least of my worries at the moment, Dwega Brioch. Tirsia had a vision. We have been betrayed somehow. The Empire is moving to destroy us once and for all.” “You don’t know that for sure,” Monea said. Tarwin glared at her. “Every vision Tirsia has had has come to pass. Why should we doubt her now?” “There’s a first time for everything,” Dido said. “What does the Council propose we do?” “Evacuate everyone.” “That’s a massive undertaking,” Scylla stated. “I understand this is the largest settlement in the Resistance. It will take time to evacuate everyone here. And it will be hard to hide that large a migration.” “We don’t have the luxury of time,” Ibdi declared. Tarwin frowned at his daughter for her forwardness, but she refused to back down. They did not have time for her father to toy with Ren and the others. They had people to save. Edoru sat down beside her. “Ibdi, how much time do we have?” “A day at the most, if Tirsia has interrupted the vision correctly.” “And what do you want from us, Tarwin?” Ren asked. “What has the Council decided?” “We will begin dispersing the populace immediately. However, we will need some people to stay behind to slow the Empire’s forces and to help ensure their escape.” “And the Council has volunteered us,” Ren finished, shaking his head. “That’s a suicide mission, Tarwin!” Ulei cried. “You and the Council can’t ask people to do that!” “The Council isn’t asking.” Leda stood up. “The Guardians and the Sailors are not under your control. From what I have seen, the Council has very few men at its disposal, especially for a task like this.” “The Council can manage with or without your help.” He turned to Ibdi. “Don’t forget what you are to do, daughter.” “I won’t forget.” Tarwin stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Ibdi winced at the noise. Edoru squeezed her hand. “How many soldiers will the Empire send, Ibdi?” Leda asked. The girl shook her head. “I don’t know. Tirsia only said she saw the largest single force the Resistance has faced.” “We can’t abandon these people to the Empire,” Dido said. “We are Guardians of Cignus.” “We will stay and fight.” Leda sighed. “However, this alters our plans.” “Considerably,” Cassandra agreed. * * * * * Edoru leaned against his favorite tree in the yard behind the house, hoping for a few moments of peace. The others were still in the house debating the placement of their forces. He could occasionally hear raised voices over the sharpening of his blades, indicating that the discussion was sometimes heated. “Edoru?” He glanced up, blade stilled against the sharpening stone. However, at the sight of his visitor, he relaxed. He even managed a small smile. Taking the smile as encouragement, Ibdi stood beside him. She began to play with the bark and the twig in her reach. “I hope I’m not bothering you.” “You’re not bothering me, Ibdi.” She glanced back the house. “I keep expecting your mother to come out and find some chore for us to do.” He glanced at the house as well. His mother had already been evacuated. It seemed so strange to be home without her there. “I know what you mean.” “She’ll be okay,” Ibdi said, covering his hand briefly with her own. “I know.” They stood in silence. Edoru resumed sharpening his blades. Ibdi leaned back against the tree, idly watching him. She could almost forget what they would be doing in a few short hours. However, Edoru wouldn’t let her. “What did your father mean? What are you to do?” She sighed. For a moment, Edoru thought he would have to ask again. But then she said, “I’m in one of the last evacuation groups, reserving as a rear guard.” “Guarding your father.” “No, he and the Council have already left.” “The coward.” “He’s my father, Edoru!” “He’s left you to fight while he saves his own neck.” “The Council’s too important to be risked.” “Is that their opinion or yours?” he demanded. “I can handle myself, Edoru! You don’t have to worry about me.” “Of course I’ll worry about you!” He grabbed her arm, spinning her around to face him. However, his anger quickly left him. She wasn’t the one he was angry with. He looked at her with a crooked grin. “Are you saying you aren’t going to worry about me, Ibdi?” She smiled back in spite of herself. “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t.” “Tease.” “Hothead.” “Nag.” “Wimp.” “You can’t use that fight back when we were nine.” “Ashamed to have been beaten by a girl, Edoru?” Her green eyes twinkled with confined laughter. “Not if it’s you, Ibdilesa.” The light, joking mood was quickly changing into something else. They were too close, and Edoru still had her arm. His eyes bore into her, refusing to release her as well. “Now who’s the tease?” she asked, her breath fanning his face. This was not how he had planned it. However, they would soon go their separate ways. Gods only knew when they would see each other again. The kiss was quick, a brief melding of lips. He stepped back and watched her expression. Edoru swallowed hard when her eyes opened and met his. She gently traced the scar on his neck. “You’d better stay safe,” she whispered. He reluctantly stepped back and pressed something into her hand. “Here, take it.” Ibdi stared down at the dagger. It was the one Edoru had been sharpening. “What is this for?” “There are some fates worse than death,” he said, his voice quiet. “Please be careful.” A cold shiver ran through her. ‘He’s thinking of his mother,’ she realized. Trying to forget the sensation, she took the dagger. “I have to go soon,” she murmured. He reluctantly nodded. “I know.” Before he could blink, Ibdi leaned forward and kissed him. He raised his hands to pull her close. However, she was already pulling away. When he opened his eyes, she was already walking away. Duty called. He walked toward the house, doing something he hadn’t done since his father died. He prayed, prayed to any god that would listen.


Chapter 6: The First Battle Jupter's Gone