Chapter 4
The Missing Princess
Caserme Axio, Placido Province, Libano Region, Ilyria
With all the preparations being made for the upcoming campaign, Colonel Cray was not expecting to get much rest when her squadron returned to their forward operating base at Caserme Axio, but even so, she did not expect to receive orders to report to Colonel Ellner the very moment Vidor set down on the ground. She wasted no time heading for the temporary headquarters. The Colonel did not like to be kept waiting.
The bodyguards outside the Colonel's office went to attention as Cray approached.
She knocked on the door and said, "Permission to enter, sir."
"Come in," Colonel Ellner replied.
Colonel Cray went into the office, stood at attention in front of Colonel Ellner's desk and saluted.
"Colonel Cray reporting, sir."
Colonel Ellner did not return the salute. Unlike some other militaries that allowed for a subordinate to drop a salute after a certain amount of time if it is not returned, a soldier of Zadok was expected to hold the salute until it was returned by his superior, no matter how long it took. Making a subordinate hold a salute for an extended period of time was a common way for an officer to show his displeasure.
"Colonel Cray, that business in Elba... sloppy work."
The operation was hardly ideal, but it could not be called a complete failure either. She had to be careful about how she worded her objection, though. Even a lieutenant colonel was not above a flogging.
"We left no witnesses, sir," she said. "There is no evidence of our involvement."
"I could care less about that," Colonel Ellner said. "The Aureans were attempting to forge a secret alliance with one of our tributaries and we have nothing to show for it thanks to your actions."
"My orders were to intercept the convoy crossing the border, sir. I did exactly that."
"But you didn't capture the traitor."
"The traitor most likely died in the attack, sir."
"'Most likely'?" the Colonel scoffed. "That's not good enough, Cray. We don't even know which tributary it was."
"It would take weeks for the news to reach them even if everything went according to their plan. They won't do anything to draw suspicion to themselves."
"We might have had a name if you didn't kill the only prisoners."
"The prisoners didn't have the information we needed. The Aureans were cautious enough to avoid that."
"Or did you have the prisoners killed for another reason?" the Colonel asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Sir?"
"Princess Julia Drusilla of Redgrave is missing."
Colonel Cray's body tensed up, but she kept her voice level and asked, "How do you know this, sir?"
"You don't think we're content to just have Prince Julius in Ur-Zadok, do you? We have people watching all the major houses in the tributaries."
"Surely there's another explanation."
"I wonder."
Colonel Ellner did not look like he believed her, but he was not the most trusting person even on a good day.
Somewhat changing the subject, the Colonel then said, "I heard that two of your men were killed by an Elban. A civilian."
Colonel Cray did not want to be reminded of that Elban boy. By all rights he should have been dead. If only that girl had not gotten in the way...
Trying to put the best possible spin on such a grievous humiliation, Colonel Cray said, "Even a civilian can get lucky, sir. My men were preoccupied with more serious opponents."
"Who were not nearly as successful of depriving this wing of valuable Dragon Riders."
"I doubt he survived the destruction of the town, sir."
"On the contrary, I have heard reports from the 22nd that a civilian succeeded in killing two more of our soldiers before eluding capture and he was escorting two others, a boy and a girl, neither of them Elbans by their description."
If true, Colonel Cray did not know whether to be angry or relieved, but for appearance's sake, she tried to throw water on the report, saying, "That account sounds suspect at best, sir."
"Well, it's now your mission to find out. You are to pursue this Elban and the people he's escorting, capture them and bring them in alive."
Colonel Cray had led manhunts before, most of them successful, but never in enemy territory.
"Assuming this Elban even exists," she said, "he may be moving deeper into the country. Are we to hazard an open invasion?"
"All in good time," Colonel Ellner replied. "For now, don't exceed fifty kilometers beyond the border. I may have you expand your operational range once we proceed to the next phase."
"The next phase, sir?"
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with. Your target has a three-day head start. That's quite the disadvantage."
Realizing that casting doubts on everything was getting her nowhere, Colonel Cray had to take the opposite approach and vowed, "If he can be found, I'll find him, sir."
"And don't forget his companions, especially if Princess Drusilla is among them."
"Of course, sir."
Colonel Ellner leveled his piercing eyes at her and said, "Now comes the true test of your loyalty to Zadok. The fate of your people rests with you, Colonel Cray."
"I will not fail, sir."
"I trust so. Have your squadron take wing at once. You're dismissed, Colonel."
At last the Colonel returned her salute, so that she could lower her arm, then turn and exit the office. She did not get far when she stopped to gather her thoughts. Things had taken a dramatic turn for the worse. There were no good options left for her. If this was her punishment for what she had to do to that village, then the vengeful dead would have their satisfaction in full, one way or another.