Page 45 of Killian
Moira nodded. “Also, unfortunately, we can’t tell what kind of traps they’ve managed to install on the inside of the temple. So even if we make it to the temple, we could be facing more problems in tight quarters. It would be better if we could get some reconnaissance.”
“I thought that was what we were doing now?”
“This is just general recon. I’ve got thirty-five warlocks on the exterior. I’ve got eight graves dug in over there, so it looks like we did manage to do some damage last night. I’ve seen several people coming and going from the inside. Which makes me guess that we’ve got maybe another five to ten people inside the temple. I also haven’t seen that skinhead motherfucker so that means he is somewhere inside too. So we’re dealing with maybe forty to forty-five men. That’s a lot to take on.”
“We can send for reinforcements from the other levels,” said Cynog. “The Head Librarian has already spoken to the full Council. If necessary, we can get at least a thousand soldiers within a few hours.”
“A thousand?” Moira was startled.
“We may not be the largest library in the universe,” said Cynog primly. “But we will defend it.”
Moira tried to envision more extensive libraries than this one and completely failed, so she focused on things she could visualize.
“I don’t suppose you know if there is another way into thetemple?”
“I do not,” said Cynog, “but Captain Ceallach served here for several seasons. Perhaps he will know.”
“Well, I’d like to have a librarian body count of zero. So let’s see if we can’t do a little more…” Moira found the word that she thought would appeal to Cynog, “research and come up with a plan before we send for the entire military.”
“Research is always the correct decision,” said Cynog, looking pleased. Moira tried not to shake her head.
They made their way back down to where the elves were waiting under the covering leaf of an enormous fern. There she found Killian rummaging through his bag as if looking for something.
“We think that there are about forty to forty-five warlocks,” said Moira, wishing that Killian would at least look at her. “Captain Ceallach, Cynog said you might know if there were another way into the temple?”
“Killian and I were just discussing that,” said Ceallach nodding. He was a tall man with skin darker than Killian’s and his white hair in micro-dreads with the ends dyed blue. At least she assumed the ends were dyed. For all she knew that’s just how elf hair worked. She would have loved to ask, but she didn’t want to look like a complete moron.
“A few kilometers down, there is a secondary entrance. It is possible that someone might be able to slip in the back way and be able to gain access to the main temple area to reconnoiter and gather information. Alas, while the door is concealed to look like part of a fresco, when it opens it would be quite visible to whomever was in the main portion of the temple.”
“So we would need a distraction,” mused Cynog, “in order to draw them out to the front of the temple?”
“That’s what I was thinking,” agreed Killian.
“Then I will sneak into the temple,” said Moira, “if all of youmake some sort of ruckus and distract them.”
“All right,” agreed Killian and Moira’s heart sank. He wasn’t even going to tell her it was too dangerous? Not that she would have listened to that kind of nonsense, but it would have showed that he cared.
“I will go with you,” said Captain Ceallach. “I can guide you and together we will be able to infiltrate and exit with speed.”
Now Moira’s heart sank into her boots. Killian wasn’t even going to offer to go with her?
“What do you think, Killian?” asked Captain Ceallach. “How much time will you need?”
Killian finally looked up from his bag, pulling out his only other shirt.
“I’m not sure,” he said, picking up a stick from the ground at his feet. “I think I can get them to talk for a while. I think if it goes poorly on my end, there will be a lot of yelling, and you should just get the hell out.” He paused to tie his white t-shirt to the stick. “But it would be nice if we had a signal that you were safe and I could leave.”
“We could use the floating leaf trick,” offered Cynog.
“Ah. Excellent idea,” said Ceallach, looking impressed by Cynog’s suggestion. Moira ignored them, focusing on Killian and the contraption that could only be described as flag-like.
“What are you doing?” demanded Moira looking at the stick.
“I’m the distraction,” said Killian, waving his white flag back and forth. “I’m going to parlay.”
Episode 20
Lonnie Brutus
