The Chronicles of Heaven's War: Burning Phoenix (14 page)

Euroaquilo grinned. “I wish all my officers’
reports were so troublesome. No, I also needed this time to clear
my mind. It may well be a long and difficult day. This has prepared
us both for what may arrive upon us. Are you coming, too, for
breakfast, I mean?”

“I will walk back part of the way with you.”
Asarel answered. “That is, if you would like my company. I’ve
already breakfasted, and I must stop by the ship to check out some
of the special equipment requested of me by Zadar, our new field
marshal’s adjunct. If there’s time, I may come along to see what
the fuss is all about.”

Euroaquilo merrily nodded and then, with
Asarel at his side, headed back for camp, the two men chatting
about their army days and all the good times they shared back
then.

* * *

The camp was a bustle with activity when
Euroaquilo finally arrived. He had been waylaid by his captains and
other officers who were hurriedly attempting to finalize their
duties in preparation for the Prisoner Exchange. It had been only
by the middle night watch that the main body of transports and
supply ships arrived at the landing site, being held off-planet
until scouts could reconnoiter the location and secure its
perimeters. At first light, work crews began their laborious
activities of readying trains and supplies needed. Euroaquilo
entered the camp just as the night crews were standing down their
duties and being replaced. By the time he arrived for breakfast,
the morning chill was little more than a memory.

“Well! It’s about time you came!” A famished
Zadar hurried up to greet Euroaquilo, taking the man by the arm and
nearly dragging him along toward the dining tables. “I’m half
starving, having to wait breakfast until this outrageous hour
because of all my duties. Then, after arriving to dine… far past a
reasonable serving time… I was informed that food would have to
wait until
his
Lordship
makes an appearance. Well
now, let’s hurry along,
your
Lordship,
so that I can
get a little grub before I’m accused of dallying and forced to
resume working on an empty stomach.”

When the two arrived at the table,
Euroaquilo was accosted with a steady barrage of complaints coming
from several others who protested in similar fashion. Finding no
defenders in the seated crowd, Euroaquilo began an animated
delivery of the perilous adventures he endured just to arrive back
in camp when he had. The man was such a good teller of tale that
everyone allowed him several minutes to relay his account of desert
rats and flying lizards, and his narrow escape from giant, hungry
tarantulas.

At length, Tizrela stood and kindly silenced
him. “Now, please, my Lord, you’ve woven a tale fit for a book, and
as long. Take your seat so that we may not expire from hunger!” She
pointed toward an empty campstool near the center of the table.
“The cooks have already threatened us with the burnt remains of the
morning’s fare. Save the tale of your stalwart account for the
evening’s fire.”

Nodding politely while continuing to defend
his tardiness, Euroaquilo managed to get to his seat. What with all
the jovial handshakes and banter, it took him more than the usual
time. Being so absorbed in conversation, he barely noticed whom he
sat across from until Lowenah shouted her hellos above the din of
the others’ merry chatter. Grinning from ear to ear, the man went
on telling her the remainder of his daunting story, not paying much
attention to the hot cup of brew pushed into his hand by a busy
steward.

Lowenah said nary a word, she silently
smiling while resting her chin on folded hands, her elbows on the
table. All the while the food was being served, she watched with
mischievous eyes as Euroaquilo continued on with his account, so
absorbed in its telling that the man paid no heed to those around
him. On he went, even after his hot vittles had been delivered.

Finally Euroaquilo picked up his fork and,
while still talking, began stuffing the scrambled breakfast into
his mouth. About the third fork full, he chanced a glance toward
Lowenah’s right, his mouth falling agape, nearly dropping his
fork.

“So, what happened then?” Lowenah asked
innocently, her eyes twinkling with impish delight.

Euroaquilo did not hear a word Lowenah
spoke. Blinking twice, believing his eyes were playing tricks on
him, the man stared into the face of the most erotically enchanting
woman he ever remembered seeing. It was several seconds before he
realized the woman was Darla.

“Da…Da…Dar…yo… yo…you…” Euroaquilo
stuttered, dropping his fork. “You…”

“
I look like shit!”
Darla sputtered,
disgusted by all the undue attention and uninvited ogling stares
since arriving for breakfast. And this was not the first fellow to
have dropped his fork today. Too, the steward had accidentally
spilled juice on her this morning, paying no attention to his
duties. What even surprised her more was the number of willing
volunteers seeking to help clean up the spill. There was even one
officer who held on to her hand far too long when offering his
assistance. The girl felt she must look a most pitiable sight to
behold.

Lowenah laughed, asking innocently, “So what
happened next, you about to be eaten by that giant tarantula. What
did you do?”

Euroaquilo did not hear what Lowenah asked.
In fact, he was oblivious for the moment that she was even there.
Indeed, the man sat, so dumbstruck, he forgot he had a mouth full
of food…well,
did
have a mouth full. The portion of his
half-chewed breakfast remaining between his teeth looked quite the
sight, some stray, juicy particles slowly dribbling down the man’s
beard.

“So, what did you do?” Lowenah asked again
ever so innocently, though her eyes betrayed that innocence.

Darla frowned, uncomfortable, leaning toward
Lowenah. “You see how shocked he is?! I have lost one of my few
lovers to this outrageous costume!”

Darla’s movements made the tiny bells
suspended on her ornate chain explode in sensual, harmonic rapture.
Every man within five paces of her stopped whatever he was doing
and listened to the mesmerizing music, silently searching for its
hypnotic source. Euroaquilo clenched his fists, closing his mouth
in a smiling grimace as he struggled to control a sudden aching in
his groin. He fought with desperation a growing desire to leap
across the table and passionately ravish the alluring creature so
shamelessly teasing him with her charms.

Darla was almost in tears, believing that
Euroaquilo’s reaction was to her abhorrent appearance. Lowenah
reached out and placed a loving hand on her arm, at the same time
extending the other hand and resting it over his clenched fist,
soothing ever so slightly the man’s raging ardor. Euroaquilo’s
unruly passions gradually began to subside.

Lowenah looked into the eyes of a very
confused Euroaquilo, who was still struggling to bring his tortured
emotional desires under control. Smiling, she asked him, “So, how
do you like my darling creature now?”

Searching to find energy to speak,
Euroaquilo eventually answered, “What witchery is this? Only last
evening, your
darling creature
and I shared sweet romance
together, her loving caresses soothing and exciting me in powerful
ways, yet now I sit here with such passion for this woman that I
fear for her rape if this table did not separate us. What spell
have you cast upon me?!”

Grinning, Lowenah answered, “No spell have I
cast. Yes, a little magic, but none that has not existed among the
Ancients from long ago. In ages past, your older sister, Anna,
danced to the delight of all the children in such a costume. Isn’t
that right, dear?”

Anna had been silently observing Darla and
the reaction the men were having over her, pondering the reason why
the woman was dressed in such a fashion. Frowning, she quietly
responded, “Yes, Mother, but it was in times long forgotten. Why
does my sweet little sister parade her flesh in such garb this day?
For what reason does she appear as a dancer in one of our
festivals? It is not by accident that you have attired her so.”

Everyone within hearing distance was
listening intently to the conversation now, many of the men
glancing longingly at Darla as they waited to hear Lowenah’s
reply.

Lowenah’s hands had not moved from their
hold on Darla and Euroaquilo. “Well…” She innocently answered. “A
festival? A festival...well, it is sort of a festive day, or will
be when the others are returned to us. Oh, but that wasn’t my
reason, and I do have more than one.”

“First, being a horse maiden is such a
thankless duty, a very important one, but very tedious and
thankless, none the less. I thought I’d add a little sparkle to it.
I remember as if it were yesterday just how much attention your
wonderful attire was noticed by the crowds when you danced for them
those many ages ago. ‘What fun it would be,’ I said to myself, ‘if
I could give just a little bit of that attention to my horse
maiden.’”

“Another reason was I wanted my child’s
hero, here…” She nodded toward Euroaquilo. “to be in a passionate
frame of mind this day. You know he has just been working so hard -
both my darlings have - I just wanted them to enjoy a good time
after returning from the Prisoner Exchange tonight. Well…” Lowenah
grinned teasingly, “that is if someone else doesn’t woo her
first.”

Anna scowled, not content with Lowenah’s
answer, but said nothing, eventually turning away and chatting with
some companions on the other side of her.

Euroaquilo remained there in a half stupor,
fantasizing about this enchanting creature sitting across from him.
After Lowenah mentioned the possibility of competition, he began
suspiciously glancing around at the other men, jealously wanting to
protect
his
private possession.

Darla still did not understand what all the
fuss was about, but she had seen that passionate gaze in
Euroaquilo’s eyes before, especially when the wine was on him. She
looked at Lowenah, questioning what was happening.

Waiting until things had quieted down and
the others had returned to their meals and conversations, Lowenah
leaned nearer to Euroaquilo, her smile fading. “Son, I suggest you
remain behind with the ships. I will need you this night, your girl
will. I have done what I have done this day to prove a point… to
me… but to also prepare you for future events. Darla will remember
your heated desires and how you are waiting for her return. That is
a very important matter. So, will you be a darling and stay
here?”

Euroaquilo smiled, nodding. At that, Lowenah
squeezed his relaxed fist. “Good.” She grinned, as some of her
magic passed into him. A tired rush swept over the man. Barely able
to keep his eyes opened, he requested to take his leave. Lowenah
approved. Excusing himself from the table, Euroaquilo slowly made
his way to his ship. After reaching his cabin, he fell forward into
the bunk, fast asleep within seconds, dreaming about the
astonishingly beautiful woman with dancing emerald-green eyes who
would soon be snuggled in his warm embrace.

* * *

Mihai stormed aboard the DishonPele,
bursting through the officers’ wardroom door, demanding to know why
her lieutenants were dallying. After a lengthy rant, she complained
accusatively, “
And where are my gauntlet gloves?! I need
officers who support me, not ones who carelessly throw obstacles
into my path. Don’t you realize just how serious a day this
is?!
”

Trisha slowly rose from her chair, motioning
with her hand for the others to remain as they were. She turned to
Mihai, offering a polite salute while bowing ever so slightly
before addressing her. “My King, we were about to conclude the
meeting. Already, adjuncts are seeing to our mounts and the supply
train is being readied, as well as are other preparations for a
successful retrieval of our companions. We…”

Mihai snapped caustically, “Good officers
should be at their posts so that others can see their preparedness!
Hiding behind secreted walls does not reassure others that one is
prepared. Now, may I suggest,
Commander
, that your officers
finish what
little
needs still to be
prepared
outside
where watchful eyes can observe their activities.”

The suspicious tone carried on Mihai’s words
did not go unnoticed. Trisha chose to ignore it. Turning to her
lieutenants, she mildly addressed them and recommended they take
their leave and conclude business elsewhere. As the officers
shuffled out through the wardroom door, Trisha asked for a moment
alone with Mihai.

“Outside, too!” Mihai scolded. “There will
be no secret talk this day. And tell me truthfully, where are my
gloves?”

Trisha did not immediately reply. Instead
she led the way from the DishonPele and down its wide belly ramp.
By the time they had reached the ground, the other officers were
scattered, seeing to whatever remained of their duties. Turning to
Mihai, Trisha kindly answered, “I will tell you where your gloves
are, but only if you first promise to allow me a private conference
with you.”

Barely able to keep her growing anger under
control, Mihai fumed, “When does a yearling order about the leader
over the herd?! Tell me what I ask and I may consider your
request.”

Trisha smiled politely. “My Lord, the entire
herd may well leave the leader should the yearling signal that it
has found water, and then even the leader will follow it. Now I ask
for such a little thing, only a few moments, but most important to
this
yearling
it is. This filly seeks knowledge and wisdom
to accomplish its task. Should it not then be given the attention
by the aged in order to accomplish that purpose?”