Broken Wings

Flight of Icarus

We were crouching under the radio tower one instant, the next we were on top of a raised platform surrounded by dark trees, tents, and three armed guards. I didn't wait for the head spinning disorientation to pass. I just charged straight for the guard with pointed ears, all my misgivings and fears instantly transformed into lethal rage!

As I raised the axe, his wide, shocked eyes found mine and... he didn't even have time to be properly scared before... Well, the last expression on his face was surprise. And just as we'd planned, one of those three guards was with Skor's group. She took the other guard, and both of them died before they had a chance to understand what was happening, let alone fight back. That left the rebel slave, Faolin, and me alone with the corpses. That can't be it, can it?!

A quick three-sixty survey satisfied me that there were no other threats in the immediate area, and I took a deep breath and began to collect myself. Then I caught sight of the dark, ragged hole in the side of the sylvan's head, felt the warm, sticky blood spattered across my face and seeping through my gloves, and a tsunami of revulsion and self-loathing overwhelmed me. I leaned forward and puked my guts out.

"Dammit," I muttered when my mouth was clear. That was... so easy. I spat out some of the nasty bile and tried to stand up straight, but my insides heaved again when I saw my axe's dripping head. I wasn't squeamish about blood. That wasn't the problem. It was just the crimson proof of my own actions, of the person I just killed. The image was searing itself into my memory like a white-hot brand to join those of contrails lacing around fireballs, screaming silhouettes wreathed in flames, and burnt flesh on blackened bone that already haunted me. This time was worse though, and I thought I knew why.

I swiped the blade back and forth on the ground to wipe the bits of flesh and most of the blood off. This isn't the time or place! Get a grip! I took a deep breath and stood back up. I had a job to do. I would deal with the questions of guilt and morality swirling through my head, but I'd do it later! Carefully avoiding the sight of the ruined bodies at our feet, I turned to our contact.

"Sorry. Where are they keeping the samples?" As the rebel eyed me critically, I realized I recognized her. This was the same green-skinned woman who'd taken my collar off, and then led me and Faolin out of the camp last night.

"Are you fit to do this?" Sil asked. "You cannot get recaptured." I spat again and longed to take a pull from my new canteen to rinse the vile taste out of my mouth. Priorities. Get moving first.

"I'm fine," I lied. I was anything but fine. I was on the verge of shock, but I could hold myself together if I could just focus on the mission. "The All has to know he's dead. We need to move now. Where are we going?"

"Central complex," she answered, all business again. "In the big tent, somewhere in the Transfiguration School's partition. That's all we could find out." I gulped and regretted it as the taste clinging to the roof of my mouth almost made me gag again. Sil wasn't giving us much to go on, but it was all we were getting. As soon as she said the last word, the rebel slave turned on her heel and dashed away from the scene of the carnage.

I wondered if Skor meant something by assigning that same woman to both of these rebellious tasks, but then I remembered she was apparently the only person besides himself in his little group who had any understanding of English. Of course she had to be the one to deal with us humans. In a few minutes, she'd free Steel and every other prisoner from their collars. More importantly, she'd show them how to do it themselves.

After that, Steel and the others would tear through the human section of the camp, beating the shit out of any guards they encountered and freeing every willing human they found to join them. They'd be loud and violent, and they were going to hold the All's attention long enough to ensure I could keep my end of the bargain with Skor. I took a moment to hope the Sylvan never learned what Sil was about to do, then I shook my head and dismissed the distraction.