These are chapters from an old manuscript, chapter one is available here. The chapter and my annotations are paywalled for people who actually love me and also love freedom and puppies. So. Time to prove some stuff.
Enjoy the first few paragraphs for free!
Chapter 30: How it Should Go
“You know those are poisonous, right?”
Trinnia flinched and dropped the sack of fire nettle she’d been collecting in the woods. Cadmus was behind her, wiping his hands on a greasy rag.
“Sorry! Wasn’t trying to spook you, kid,” he said. “Those are fire nettle. First time I saw them, I thought they were shallots. That was a very painful Soup Night.”
“I know what they are. I grew up in a place where we like plants, you know,” she said, gathering up the loose bulbs with a pair of sticks.
“Kind of a strange time to be picking flowers though, yeah?” Cadmus said.
“I’m just trying to stay useful,” Trinnia said. “I’m not the cartographer anymore, not a fighter either, and we’re about to go into the middle of a lot of Korba soldiers. I just wanted something I could use if I had to.”
Cadmus nodded. “Well, you got us this far. Sounds like Cap’s gonna need all hands on deck for this one. They just finished the battle plan. Come on, they want everyone at the convoy.” He headed off, so she cinched up the bag and hurried after him.
In truth, she wasn’t sure she was prepared to run into her father again. If he was at the NetherFortress, she didn’t want to know. It was bad enough knowing that he had lied to everyone and was working with the enemy. Somehow all of that was scarier than the idea of driving right into the middle of an enemy stronghold.
Hopefully Puk’s plan would give her some reassurance.
Back at the convoy, the boomers and rebels milled about in front of the command truck as the leaders took a headcount. Over by the mechanic truck, away from the group, Trinnia spotted Jecco holding a bowl of grayish paste in one hand. With the other, he dabbed strange little markings on his skin, humming a tune as he worked.
“Fain, Andorans, Enonites. Pay close attention because we are very short on time,” Bazilla said, standing on the back of the command truck. Trinnia barely saw Bazilla’s head over the crowd of Andoran men. She set the nettle bag down and climbed up into the closest tree for a better view.
“We’re about to go into the Korba camp. Some of you Andorans didn’t sign up for this, but you’re here, and you’re expected to conduct yourselves with the same decorum as any enlisted soldier. Follow your orders to the letter. Captain Brimstone has the details. Listen to him, and you will survive the day.” She stepped down, and the Captain replaced her.
“Bazilla and Saroset will separate you into groups. Some of you will end up wearing the Korba uniforms. Anyone who doesn’t have a uniform, you stay out of sight. Once we get rolling, we are officially a Korba strike force that stole the Brimstone fleet. That’s what they’re expecting.
“The NetherFortress is twelve miles south by southeast of here, down a switchback road that drops us into this crater. Saroset, Avarak, Jungso, and Cadmus: you’re in the vehicles up front. Window seats, all of you.” He pointed to the map, which they had stuck to the side of the command truck with thick grease. “There are checkpoints here and here as we enter the encampment. The Korba motor yard is here, and the armories are here and here, between these garrisons. Rigs One through Four are to break off and secure the armories. We’re not worried about swords or spears, but you need to break any bows, crossbows, or hand cannons they have. Be fast and thorough.
“Barrett and Cadmus, you’re in the haul truck. Take the drill here, to the base of the NetherFortress. Saroset has forged a Korba dispatch that says you are to offload the drill for last-minute work inside the fortress. Cadmus can pass as a Korba. He will stay with the drill.
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