Station, стр. 85
"So at least two, probably more Caesars will befighting against us."
"Yeah, our aces in the hole have officially becomejokers, complete wildcards."
Hadder nodded, trying to process this newinformation, this unfortunate turn of events. He looked sadly atGlen, already knowing the answer to the question he was preparingto ask. "Royal?"
Glen's face sank for his old friend. "Afraid hedidn't have a guardian angel like you did. Poor bastard bled out onthe floor."
"And Lilly Sistine?"
"The bitch escaped into the Rising. But not beforeshe killed two others and severely hurt a third making herdeparture. We're lucky someone spotted her across the lawn runningout covered in blood; otherwise, we may have just chalked the wholething up to a Riser assassination. Before we could even get to you,a Caesar had come in and removed your body. How he got there sofast is beyond me. But those that saw you get carried out swore youwere a goner. Said you had more holes in you than Swiss cheese."Glen took a moment. "But I said if anyone can find a way back,it'll be that sonavabitch."
"You were right, my friend. Now tell me where we'reat with preparations."
"Hadder?"
"Yeah."
"I'm truly sorry about Lilly. I thought she was oneof the good ones. We all did."
The phantom wounds began to throb. "Maybe she stillis, Glen. Facing death is no easy task, especially for those of uswho have faced it before, stared down the gullet of the abyss.Truth be told, if she had just asked me, I would have plunged thatknife in my own heart for her safety and happiness."
"But she didn't ask you. And she sure as shit didn'task poor Royal."
"No, she didn't. She just acted out ofself-preservation."
"Well, if I see her across from us in the Great War,I'm going straight for her. And I'm going to kill her."
Now it was Hadder's turn to place his hand on Glen'sshoulder. "That's good, Glen. Because I don't think I'll be ableto."
"Your return has emboldened them. Not just here, butall across the Setting. And just in time, too. I think more badnews may have crushed everyone's spirit."
Hadder didn't respond to Glen's words, insteadchoosing to keep his attention focused on the work being done onThe Royal Jelly. Although he knew that Glen spoke the truth,Hadder was unnerved by his role of savior. One that had been thrustupon him by many residents. But given that it was a necessaryburden to bear, Hadder simply decided to remain quiet on thematter. His mantle of messiah would be proven bullshit soonenough.
Ten feet from where the two men stood, twin guitarsstuck up from the ground, marking where their friend Royal Winterslay buried. Hadder's chest rose and fell quickly as he continued tomourn his lost companion. Hadder looked over at the fresh grave andrepeated a promise he had made several times in the past few Solays- we will fight to the end, Royal.
"We're making good progress," Hadder said to Glen asthey both watched their deceased friend's Bar acquire neededdefenses and offensive surprises. "If we dig in at variouslocations like this, it will be a real pain in the ass to uprootus. We should be able to hold out for months, if not more. Let'ssee how much these bastards are really willing to work for theirprecious freedom in the Before."
"Agreed. We'll be like the Afghanis, defending ourlabyrinthine positions and striking when and where least expected.We'll try the patience of these impatient freaks." Glen nudgedHadder hard in the ribs, pointed his chin across the lawn to thenorth. "Now, what the fuck is this?"
From one of the many garden pathways that spilledout into the vast lawn of The Royal Jelly, a female Riserstepped out, flanked on three sides by residents who each held along blade to her throat or neck. The Riser wore a skin-tight blackleotard with leather boots and leather bracelets that ran up anddown both her arms. Although she bore no apparent weapons, Hadderlooked carefully and spotted two small blades, sticking straight upfrom her knees, perfect for a deadly Muay Thai contest. To finishoff her look, the woman bore a leather mask, pointed in the frontlike a human falcon mask, with eyeholes that revealed dark,calculating orbs.
Glen motioned the quartet over, placing his handover the pommel of the sword he kept strapped to his side. When itcame to Risers, no precaution was too much.
The Riser strode over, a confident march that wouldhave been at home on both catwalk and battlefield. When she wasfifteen feet from Hadder, Glen held up his hand. The Setter guardstightened their weapons against the woman's throat and neck,forcing her to a stop. An uncomfortable silence settled in as Riserand Setter stood face to face, sizing each other up. It was thewoman who broke the muted stare-down. "Usually, the captor speaksfirst. And, as you can see, I am successfully captured. You mustfeel so powerful right now." Sarcasm dripped from her words likeblood had surely trickled from her bladed knees.
Glen responded, "What is it you want, Riser? Andknow that if I don't like what I hear, I'll have you sent back tothe Rising in pieces."
"Tsk tsk. That's no way to treat a warmessenger."
"Is that what you are?"
"Well, I have a message, so you tell me."
"What's the message?"
The woman ignored Glen, turned her leather mask toface Hadder. "Marlin Hadder, officially back among the land of theliving. The Krown wants you to know, the Great War wouldn't havebeen the same without you."
Hadder shot back. "Is that why he sent Lilly Sistineafter me? It seems like he wanted to take a shortcut."
The Riser shrugged, the movement showcasing hertoned body and fighting muscles. "Well, you can't blame him fortrying. The more Risers that make it out of Station, the more havocwe can wreak on the world. Simple math, really. He had to give it ago. But he wants you to know that he's delighted that death didn'ttake. We all ache for a true test of