123 Trap

When George came to, he found himself in a spacious open ward of the new hospital. Right across from him was Mr. Moda, in bed with a big dark bruise on his face.

"What happened to him?" George stared.

"Hit by a door." Sabriane said, from behind him. He turned to see her sitting at the nurse's station. "Phoebe Effect. Enough said. She went out to help one patient and came back with three."

"Speaking of the one patient… how's Jane?"

"She's fine. She seems a bit in a daze, might have hit her head a bit hard when she fell, but Phoebe tells me that physically, she's fine."

Also in bed nearby were two of the new Iron Legion recruits. "What about them?"

"Again, Phoebe Effect."

George shook his head. "Some day, if we go to war against anybody else, we could post a picture of Phoebe on an airship and show that to our enemies."

Sabriane let out a laugh. "That might do more damage than the Bellower."

George allowed himself a chuckle, then said, "Well, looks like I'm off to see to the mines' fortifications and then try to build Mindy some new airships."

"Mines? Airships? What about the town?" Sabriane asked.

"Remian didn't say anything about a town. Honestly, I'm growing tired of rebuilding it every time it gets wrecked. Maybe we'll just do without it."

"How? Are we supposed to live on airships?"

"Why not?" George shrugged. "Mindy could do it. In fact, that might be exactly why he wants so many Sky Barges."

"Maybe he just forgot…?"

"Maybe. Either way, I'm not rebuilding that town." George said.

***

Meanwhile, the Red Fang had reached the mountain range leading up to Three Pines Peak.

"Are we still being followed?" Remian asked Mindy.

Mindy turned to glance behind them. "Herd of giant stags and other weird Wilds just tailing us without making a sound? Yeah, they're still there."

"Are they're trying to chase us out? If so, they can stop now." Remian grimaced. "It's a bit creepy, how they've been following us over the Speckled Highlands."

Just then, the biggest stag in the whole bunch lifted its head and bayed.

From Three Pines Peak, a thundering shriek answered.

"Oh, great. And here I was hoping we could sneak past the Eagle Lord." Remian grunted.

Mindy gulped. She yelled, "All hands, battle stations!"

"We're already AT battle stations!" ten voices chorused.

Far ahead, from Three Pines Peak, a towering figure took to the skies. Hundreds of smaller figures followed, forming a cloud, a veritable whirlwind of flyers.

"Not good!" Remian glanced around. "Turn around! Full 180! We have to get out of here!"

The airship spun, showing off the agility of a military-grade Frigate, but just as they were about to make a run for safety, a bolt of shimmering energy hammered at the hull.

"All stop!" Remian barked.

"What was that?!" Mindy gasped.

"That…" Remian stared. "I think… I mean… I have this feeling that… well…"

[Psionic energy. A physical attack using a bolt of psionic energy.] Bzziezio supplied.

Oh, by the way, Bzziezio is Bzziezuo's daughter, previously crown princess of the hive at the farm, and currently new queen of the hive on the Red Fang. Apparently, she's a closer friend to Darian than any of the other Feelo-Wasps around. Or so she claims.

"But why are they attacking us?" Mindy asked.

"From the looks of it…" Remian's face was grim. "They weren't following us to chase us out. They're there to prevent us from running away."

"Then this…" Mindy figured it out quickly enough. "This is a trap."

"How much time would it take to take us above the clouds?" Remian asked, glancing up.

"Too long. Those birds will be on us in minutes. We kept the low altitude to keep in contact with the scouts, but now…"

"Take us down. Even lower. If the worst happens, at least we won't fall from this high up." Remian frowned. "Where are the wolfcats? And the lynxmice?"

"They're scattered all over the place. We asked them to scout, remember?"

Remian closed his eyes, looking for one wolfcat in particular. [Carrie? Where are you?]

He found her soon enough and had a quick word with her in the little time they had to discuss the situation.

Afterward, he opened his eyes and told Mindy, "We should set down."

"Where? These are forested highlands and mountains. There's nowhere to land." Mindy told him. "This is as low as we get without scraping the treetops."

[Trying to hide?] the thought-message reverberated through the mountains. Remian somehow felt like he'd walked straight into a fog, or that maybe the air had thickened to vapor, except that it didn't, and nothing had changed. The psionic strength of the Eagle Lord was just that tangible. [There's no point. I already see you.]

A feathery tower of an eagle landed in front of them, peering at them callously.

"Yeah, that's a mistake. Give us half an hour, and you won't have to see us any more…" Remian offered. "We'll just be going…"

[No, no, stay. It is not every day one gets the chance to see the squatter of Shadowflash's fief under one's beak…] the Eagle Lord looked down at Remian in more ways than one.

" 'Squatter'…?! What do you mean, 'Squatter'?!" Mindy bristled.

[By that, I mean, when Shadowflash returns, you will be eaten alive.] The Eagle Lord shrugged.

"You think he's still alive? Do you have some idea as to where he is?" Remian asked, directly.

[Of course. I see everything. I know everything.] The Eagle Lord said proudly.

"So where is he?"

[In the Forbidden Depths of the Amber Gorge.]

Remian gaped. He turned to Mindy, eyes wide. "I got a straight answer! Just like that!"

"I know, right?!"

"He didn't boast for an hour and provoke me for two and then challenge me to a fight… he just told me a straight answer!"

"I know!!"

"He didn't even try to tease me or ask me to guess twenty riddles! He just told me flat out!"

"I know!!!"

Remian turned back to the Eagle Lord. "But… aren't we enemies? You're treating me awfully well for someone who wants to kill me."

[Petty behavior like that… is beneath me!] The Eagle Lord scoffed.

"I get the feeling that you see a lot of things as beneath you…" Remian mused. "Any chance that ripping us to shreds is also beneath you?"

[Personally, perhaps, but I have no qualms ordering my subordinates to tear you apart.]

"So much for that…" Remian grimaced. "Is there any way you could spare us? Let us go?"

[Spare you? And why would I do that?]

"I was hoping you could offer us that answer yourself."

[Offer an enemy an advantage over myself? Such foolishness… is beneath me!]

"But you're okay letting your subordinates do the dirty work?"

[They are also beneath me.]

"Aren't mundane things like eating and drinking also beneath you?"

[Eating and drinking is of the High Order, mandated by Heaven! It is a superior law of nature…]

"Right, why don't you just keep on explaining your high-minded philosophies…"

[While you carefully sneak away from right under my beak? I think not.]

"Why not? Surely noticing such sneaky methods is beneath you."

[Beneath, and a little to the left, in fact.] The Eagle Lord's eye fell on Mindy, who had very casually put her hand on the magic cannon's controls. [Take that shot, and I guarantee you will die before you ever see it land.]

"But yet you're here talking to us. Surely that means there's some sort of deal we could work out?" Remian tried again. "I mean… you must be wondering why so many Wilds cooperate with us, right? There's a secret to it, you know?"

[Honey marinade and barbecue sauce. Charbroiled to medium-rare. I know.] The Eagle Lord nodded. [I told you. I see everything.]

Mindy gasped. "Wait a minute! Come to think of it, our roast meats has been around since the start of the Adventurers Guild! How did Tim ever get honey before the Feelo-Wasps?"

"There had to be other bees in the area." Remian pointed out. "I mean, Buff had a reason for wanting to settle in that cave of all places."

"I see!" Mindy brightened.

"So… how much do you want for our release? We can get our people bring some over in exchange for our lives…" Remian asked the Eagle Lord.

[Taking hostages and demanding food? Such banditry… is beneath me!]

Remian groaned. "Look, this would go a lot faster if you would just tell us outright what it is exactly that you want…"

[I would, but…] the Eagle Lord shifted uneasily. [That, too… is beneath me…]

Remian facepalmed.