A Song of Chaos

KAHLI

The city was a powder keg ready to blow since that night. Her father had refused to even speak to her now. Kahli paced the length of the gate. Samantha and Alexi were supposed to be back a while ago.

Her plan was useless without the titanium. Did they get held up? Run into the Altahans? Before panic and worry could settle in, off in the distance, a small ball of light came into view.

It was moving fast. Not the Altahans, they had more of a glow and moved faster.

“Open the gate,” she said, heading to the ground level.

The small buggies came barreling down the dirt path, almost hitting a few pedestrians in the process. Kahli ran over with a medic close behind. In the back were only two boxes of titanium.

Alexi and Samantha hopped out, helping with the injured.

“What happened out there?”

“We were attacked,” Alexi said.

“Altahans?”

“It would make more sense if we were. Another settlement,” Samantha said.

“There’s a bounty on us,” Alexi said. “We stopped to fuel up and trade, but it went sour quickly. They stole the other boxes and shot at us.”

It wasn’t uncommon for smaller groups to roam and live like nomads. It made things easier to avoid the Altahans.

Shooting and robbing other humans was new; then again, their trade had been cut in half with the work camps popping up more. The two boxes weren’t enough to make weapons for everyone.

“Get some rest. I’ll take this over to the blacksmith and have him get started.”

Once the blacksmith examined the contents of the boxes, he frowned.

“I can make a few of each.”

It was as she feared, but they would do their best with what they had. The plan could still work.

All the experienced soldiers would get the new weapons, and the others could run interference—lots of cover fire. It wouldn’t hurt the Altahans, but it would be annoying.

“Do what you can,” she said.

“When was the last time you went to sleep?” he asked.

“I closed my eyes for a few minutes. Once all the preparations are made, I will.”

He grunted. “You sound more and more like your mother every day.”

Her heart dropped. How long had it been since someone mentioned her mother? She was reduced to that one picture on her father’s shelf. Even after all she gave for them to be safe.

“Have you thought about your armor design? Song?” he asked. “You’re a lot smaller than her, but I can rework it if you want, but the song has to be all you.”

“A bit old-fashioned, isn’t it? The Altahans won’t care what I’m wearing or what war song I’ll sing.”

“It’s not for them,” he said.

The sizzle and crackle of the forge filled the tiny space. Inspiration wasn’t enough before. Why would it be now? The only inspiration needed was the will to survive—to preserve their way of life.

She nodded and stepped into the rising sunlight.

“Give us something that outshines the fear. Death,” he said.

Kahli’s eyes were heavy as she climbed the hill home. Maybe the blacksmith was right about sleep. She could drop in the dirt where she stood, and it would be like a feather bed.

The hall was silent as she discarded her jacket and boots along the way. As Kahli passed her father’s office, quiet voices slipped into the hall.

She peeked in the door and found the survivors’ prominent leaders gathered around.

“Anything I should know about?” she said, pushing the door wide.

Stanis and Jamie quickly grabbed a stack of papers from the desk. The others began to clear out of the room. The pit of her stomach dropped; this was the last thing they needed right now.

“Nothing that concerns your fruitless war,” her father said. “Maybe after your failure, you will reconsider the marriage.”

“I would rather walk into a pyre. No offense,” she said, looking at Jamie.

“We’re way past that, but I appreciate a person that will speak their mind,” he said.

After he and his father left, Kahli leaned on the doorframe. That irritating pen scribbled away, and her father’s eyes stayed cast to the page.

“What if we win?” she asked.

“Win?”

“If we’re able to drive them back. What will you say then?”

“A prayer. They would surely destroy us.”

***

The days came and went, but their preparations were complete. It was time, the moment she’d had hoped and worked for over the years.

The streets were unusually empty and quiet as she watched from her window. Why did the moon seem so bright that night? A quiet knock made her jump.

“This was left for you. From the blacksmith,” the maid said.

She placed the box on the bed along with a card.

Let your song be as strong.

Kahli flipped it open and took a shaky breath. It was breathtaking and impractical. Her mother always had a thing for theatrics and flare. She lifted the intricate gold headdress and placed it on.

The eye shield made it hard to see anything but what was in front of you.

Kahli checked the box for the chest and leg armor. All she found were a set of dangling chains. After some time of struggling to see how it all fit together, she saw the final result.

It was not ideal for a battle or even to wear outside. At least the short sword he included was precisely what she had hoped for.

They ended up opting for more blades and bombs than bullets, but she made sure the few they did have had gone to the right people.

The streets may have been empty, but the front gate was a different story. Everyone was there waiting on her. Kahli made it to the front of the crowd.

The captain was the first to meet her, and his expression said what she felt about the armor.

“Interesting choice,” he said.

“How are we progressing?”

“It has started. The group successfully drew out the Altahans and should be here within the hour. The bombs were planted last night. We’re ready to head out,” Captain said.

“Where’s Alexi?”

She scanned the faces and came up empty. He was her second.

“I would assume enjoying the last moments he might have with his wife,” Captain said. “He’ll meet us on the field. We need to get everyone else set up.”

“You’re right. Let’s go.”