Dark Obligations: Book One of the Phantom Badgers Read Free Page B

That will leave Axel enough Badgers to accomplish what we need done while the raiders are gone.”
    “Now for the meat of the matter: which twelve?” Gabriella had produced a long-toothed comb and was absently running it through her hair.
    “For the outside pair we’ll use Gottri and Kurt,” Durek began.
    “Gottri and Kurt?” Robin repeated, a sneer stamped on his face. “Gottri’s thick as a stump, and Kurt’s a crybaby, one foot out of the Company.”
    “Perfect for the mission,” Axel answered for his Captain. “Gottri’s a Dwarf, so very little in the mountains will escape his notice, and both Gottri and Kurt are not aggressive, they’ll avoid trouble if at all possible which is exactly what we need for the mount guards.”
    Robin thought about that. “Yeah, you’re right.”
    “For the ten going inside, I plan to lead myself, with Bridget as my second-in-command; Dmitri, you will stay with Axel.”
    “I woul d rather you take him and leave Bridget - she’s prettier,” Axel interjected, raising a few smiles.
    “ Bridget’s a Healer and has some spellweaving,” Durek explained patiently; his word was law on all matters, but he was far too canny a commander to force an issue when there was time to explain. “We’ll take Arian Thyben as a second Healer, Kroh Blackhand for his Dwarven knowledge and his fighting prowess, the new Lanthrell, Starr, to get a better measure of her scouting abilities, and Janna, Robin, Gabriella, Trellan Northwind, and Nuilia Leandra-Klaun as a fighting-line.” The Captain eyed those named for the mission. “Do any of you wish to decline this mission?”
    “You’re laying heavily on veterans for this one,” Robin observed sourly. “If we take a beating we’ll lose the heart of the Company.”
    “We risk that every campaign,” Durek shrugged. “That is the nature of our profession. I believe that the Phantoms Badgers shall persevere through this trial as a Company, however many of us die as individuals.”
    “Now there’s a cheerful thought,” Gabriella laughed. “Pretty words, Captain, dark but very pretty, just like me. Now tell us how we’re going to pull this off.”
     
    Dawn saw the Badger camp seething with activity as the Company prepared for the raid. The various members of the raid who had not been at the council of war were contacted, advised of the risks and importance, and polled as to whether they would agree to go; all agreed, however reluctantly some individuals were. Those who were not included on the raid worked just as hard as those chosen as the effort of mounting such an effort called upon the full resources of the Badgers, especially as the force was to depart the very next day.
    After a summer of campaigning equipment and weapons were worn and needed maintenance, repair, or replacing; some of the unit’s mounts were too tired to undertake such a trip and had to be exchanged, while others needed new shoes or repaired tack. There was the problem of assembling enough supplies to support the unit in the trip, plus the equipment necessary to accomplish the mission, and then determining the best way of transporting it all across the many miles between Oramere and Gradrek Heleth . Durek had outlined a general concept for the trip and the raid itself and these concepts had to be developed into a plan and the details resolved, all within the narrow confines of a single all day.
    By afternoon the logistics of the raid had been worked out and the preparations were nearly complete; each member of the raid had had his or her equipment and weapons checked, repaired or replaced as necessary, their mounts inspected, and the two light carts carefully gone over and packed with exacting care. When all that could be done had been, the raiders gathered in the mess tent to go over the plan for the raid.
     
    Axel went over the reasons for the operation, the basic concept of the raid, the logistics, and the route to be taken; the crippled Wizard was good at