Shadows Fade seemed to ask Naismith what they were discussing. The full force of the girl’s anger piled into an explanation; it was almost a rant, with plenty of pointing at the old Irish priest. Dust recognised the ire so well it almost brought a smile to his face.
Shadows Fade nodded when Naismith was done. Then she turned to the Father and said something in a low voice.
Whatever it was, Father Kilkenny recoiled as though he’d been slapped. His eyes widened as he asked something – Dust could tell it was a question from the puzzlement on his face – and Shadows Fade simply nodded.
“My God,” Father Kilkenny said. Then he marked the cross on his chest.
Naismith frowned as though she hadn’t understood the exchange. Perhaps the warrior had used a lesser-known term or dialect.
“Anyway,” Dust said, trying to end the conversation, “thank you scouting the area. Something specific to work with would have been good but I’ll take correct information over good information all day long. Could you thank Shadows Fade for me too, please?”
Naismith sniffed, still glaring at Father Kilkenny. “You’re welcome,” she said before she passed Dust’s thanks on to Shadows Fade.
Shadows Fade said something in reply and pointed to the north-west.
“She says she thinks it likely the creatures will attack from the north-west,” Naismith translated. “She sounds very certain.”
“Why?” Dust asked.
Naismith asked and then translated “She says that the north-west would provide the best cover for those who use guns. She also states that… she… found tracks which suggest that most of the attacks have come from that direction.”
” Good,” Dust said. “At least we have something to go on.”
“So what are we going to do?” Father Kilkenny asked.
Dust shook his head. “There’s no we, Father. You’re going to do exactly what you would any other day; see to your people, protect your chapel. But you’re going to strengthen this place first. For a start, the prayers you’ve nailed to your walls are worse than useless; you need to use your own words to change that. Your church might not like to hear that but it’s true. Take each one down and replace them.”
Father Kilkenny winced. He hadn’t liked hearing that. Tough. The rising heat on his shoulder was a suitable price to pay for chastising someone for doubting a warrior like Shadows Fade.
“The rest of us’ll defend your town. Shadows Fade will hunt where she thinks best. Meanwhile, Naismith and I will hide out in the gutted buildings just south of here.” Dust pointed to a couple of the empty houses. “They’ve been stripped but we’ll be out of sight long enough.”
“Long enough for what?” Naismith asked.
“To launch an ambush. After Shadows Fade and…” He caught himself, nearly making the same mistake Naismith had. “After Shadows Fade has harried them from the north, they won’t expect another attack. You and I will catch them unawares, concentrating on taking out the mercenaries first; with good timing, we could have them down before they even know what’s happening.”
Boy but it felt good to be planning out the downfall of someone who deserved to die. His plan wasn’t complex but it didn’t need to be; the mercenaries wouldn’t expect the firepower that they could bring to bear, not after having spent so long pounding Crucifix into the dirt. It was the kind of plan he’d put together more than once in his Ranger days and, well, he was still here.
Dust decided to use Father Kilkenny’s prejudice to his advantage. “Are you up for this?” he asked Naismith.
Her eyes flashed with annoyance. “Why of course I am! I am looking forward to it, in fact.”
Dust nodded. She’d rather be anywhere but Crucifix right now so giving her cause to defend the town was crucial. From the look of determination on her face, he’d managed to do just that.
“Can you explain the plan to Shadows Fade?” he asked.
Father Kilkenny opened his mouth to talk but decided better of it. Instead, Naismith gave the explanation. Shadows Fade listened along and then said something.
“She’s ready,” Naismith said.
Shadows Fade seemed to realize there would be no further conversation as she chose to turn and leave. Dust liked that; she must have wanted to plan her routes out ahead of time, ensure she knew every rock and every blade of grass before she put her life at risk. At least, that’s what he would have done. And what he had done on more than one occasion.
“You’re risking your lives for us,” Father Kilkenny said as he watched Shadows Fade disappear out of sight.
Dust shook his head. “No,” he said, “we’re risking them for Penelope.”
