you do reconnaissance with Kessler for now,” Baylor continued. “We meet back here at sundown. That will give us enough time to report and get positioned before nightfall. Questions?”
Quinlan had a hundred but dared not ask one.
“Do your jobs well, men, so that tomorrow we aren’t surprised.”
The knights saluted and separated. Quinlan rode with Kessler and Purcell toward the city while Drake and Baylor headed southeast to investigate the southern perimeter. Once inside the city, Purcell split from Kessler and Quinlan.
“How many Shadow Warriors will we face?” Quinlan asked Kessler as they rode down a city street.
“Most attacks are by two or three Shadow Warriors, and that is plenty. The Swords of Valor augment the Silent Warriors and take missions of protection that may or may not event out.”
“Event out?”
“Every time we are called, the mission is real, but not every mission ends in a fight. When swords cross, we call that an event.”
Quinlan nodded. “I see.”
“We are given missions when the predicted warrior count is five or less. Anything more than that, the Silent Warriors are involved—and they may be anyway, depending on the importance of the mission. We can never tell. Sometimes the most innocuous missions end up becoming critical events. It also depends on which Shadow Warriors are identified as incoming threats.”
Kessler looked over at Quinlan with as serious a look as he had yet seen on the man. “There are some Shadow Warriors you just don’t ever want to face.”
Quinlan swallowed hard as Kessler continued. “Five warriors or less is a skirmish. Fifteen or less, a fray. Fifty, a conflict. More than that is a battle.”
“How about a war?”
Kessler smiled. “That’s what we’re in right now, my friend, and it’s all around us.”
“Of course,” Quinlan said with a sheepish grin. “The commander mentioned three-stage protection. What is it?”
“Stage one is outer-perimeter protection. Baylor identifies the size and direction of the approaching Shadow Warrior force. With early detection, Baylor has often been able to thwart an attack before it starts, especially if it’s a single warrior. Stage two is inner-perimeter protection,the primary and preferred fight zone for anything greater than four warriors. Stage three is protection right next to the target. If the fight gets that close, we haven’t done our job and things are getting desperate. Depending on the situation, target extraction is a possibility. That’s part of Purcell’s reconnaissance—to determine a safe extraction route. By then our cover is blown and all bets are off.”
Quinlan shook his head, again feeling completely out of his league. It would take a decade of training before he could contribute anything to the unit … if he didn’t get killed first. He imagined Tav in his place—clearly the wiser choice—but thinking that way brought instant discouragement, so he forced himself to concentrate on the mission at hand.
Quinlan spent the next three hours learning as much as possible from Kessler—asking questions when necessary while trying not to be a hindrance to their work. He was extremely grateful for being assigned with him and knew that Baylor had matched them for more than just mission fulfillment.
At sundown the five men met once again on the knoll overlooking the city. Baylor reached down with a stick and drew a rough outline of Arimil and the coastline in the dirt. “Purcell, you first,” he commanded.
“The haven meets on the stable grounds on the southeastern edge of the city. Worthington and his team sleep in tents nearby.” Purcell pointed to the location of the haven and the tents on the ground map.
Baylor looked disappointed.
“That’s tougher to defend,” Kessler whispered to Quinlan. “Get ready for double night watches.”
“There are four other Knights of the Prince on Worthington’s team,” Purcell continued. “Three look like they can handle
Quinlan had a hundred but dared not ask one.
“Do your jobs well, men, so that tomorrow we aren’t surprised.”
The knights saluted and separated. Quinlan rode with Kessler and Purcell toward the city while Drake and Baylor headed southeast to investigate the southern perimeter. Once inside the city, Purcell split from Kessler and Quinlan.
“How many Shadow Warriors will we face?” Quinlan asked Kessler as they rode down a city street.
“Most attacks are by two or three Shadow Warriors, and that is plenty. The Swords of Valor augment the Silent Warriors and take missions of protection that may or may not event out.”
“Event out?”
“Every time we are called, the mission is real, but not every mission ends in a fight. When swords cross, we call that an event.”
Quinlan nodded. “I see.”
“We are given missions when the predicted warrior count is five or less. Anything more than that, the Silent Warriors are involved—and they may be anyway, depending on the importance of the mission. We can never tell. Sometimes the most innocuous missions end up becoming critical events. It also depends on which Shadow Warriors are identified as incoming threats.”
Kessler looked over at Quinlan with as serious a look as he had yet seen on the man. “There are some Shadow Warriors you just don’t ever want to face.”
Quinlan swallowed hard as Kessler continued. “Five warriors or less is a skirmish. Fifteen or less, a fray. Fifty, a conflict. More than that is a battle.”
“How about a war?”
Kessler smiled. “That’s what we’re in right now, my friend, and it’s all around us.”
“Of course,” Quinlan said with a sheepish grin. “The commander mentioned three-stage protection. What is it?”
“Stage one is outer-perimeter protection. Baylor identifies the size and direction of the approaching Shadow Warrior force. With early detection, Baylor has often been able to thwart an attack before it starts, especially if it’s a single warrior. Stage two is inner-perimeter protection,the primary and preferred fight zone for anything greater than four warriors. Stage three is protection right next to the target. If the fight gets that close, we haven’t done our job and things are getting desperate. Depending on the situation, target extraction is a possibility. That’s part of Purcell’s reconnaissance—to determine a safe extraction route. By then our cover is blown and all bets are off.”
Quinlan shook his head, again feeling completely out of his league. It would take a decade of training before he could contribute anything to the unit … if he didn’t get killed first. He imagined Tav in his place—clearly the wiser choice—but thinking that way brought instant discouragement, so he forced himself to concentrate on the mission at hand.
Quinlan spent the next three hours learning as much as possible from Kessler—asking questions when necessary while trying not to be a hindrance to their work. He was extremely grateful for being assigned with him and knew that Baylor had matched them for more than just mission fulfillment.
At sundown the five men met once again on the knoll overlooking the city. Baylor reached down with a stick and drew a rough outline of Arimil and the coastline in the dirt. “Purcell, you first,” he commanded.
“The haven meets on the stable grounds on the southeastern edge of the city. Worthington and his team sleep in tents nearby.” Purcell pointed to the location of the haven and the tents on the ground map.
Baylor looked disappointed.
“That’s tougher to defend,” Kessler whispered to Quinlan. “Get ready for double night watches.”
“There are four other Knights of the Prince on Worthington’s team,” Purcell continued. “Three look like they can handle