It was three days before the answer from command came, and the camp was finally finished, with everyone set to move into their new abodes, even Wolfe and his very reluctant Witches, who had become quite comfortable in the hidden bunker.
“Officers and Witch recruits meet in the bunker. Wolfe, you too.” Priya ordered after reading the letter that the runner had brought.
She took a seat at the table and slumped forward with her hands rubbing her temples before speaking again. Even before the words came out of her mouth, it was clear that this was not going to be good news and that she wasn’t looking forward to contemplating the implications of what she had read.
“What you hear in this room cannot leave this room. Not even the prisoners are to know. Sylvan Coven’s Intelligence Service has been investigating hundreds of reports of strange deployments and suicide missions for Morgana Coven draftees, and they’ve made a breakthrough.
With the exception of Reiko Morgan and a small handful of others, all of the thousands of people drafted, both witches and mundane soldiers, were from mixed-blood families, and the main line armies from the Morgana Coven were given orders to make sure that none of them ever returned to the city.
I have some connections in intelligence, and they informed me that something has happened inside the city there, and the Coven Council is no longer in control.
We couldn’t confirm it, but the rumour in Morgana City is that the majority of the Coven Council has fled the city walls after a week-long battle with the crime families.
What we can confirm is that military orders are no longer coming from inside the city but from a Village near the ocean, and most likely have been since the draft.
Sylvan’s Intelligence Service can confirm that Witches were fighting on both sides of the battles inside the Fortress City but cannot confirm the rumours that there were male spell casters present.”
“So, the intelligence service thinks what? That Magi attacked a Fortress City and overthrew the Morgana Coven Council? You know how insane that sounds, right?” Ilyas asked.
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Cassie looked at Priya with a stone-cold expression but pity in her thoughts. “If there was an all-out war against the Crime Families, they lost. It’s not in question. Even before we left, the Coven didn’t go to the lower half of the city without multiple Armored vehicles, and they paid the Crime Families for protection if they had to stay there to do an investigation.”
“How could they have that much power, and why didn’t anyone else know?” Priya sighed, looking defeated.
“The Crime Families have all the Guns and most of the combat training, as well as the sort of fighters who are willing to actually kill. The Coven Police can be scary, but they’re almost all rich kids with a sense of justice.
We just assumed that’s how it was everywhere. It’s been that way for generations, but they’ve never tried to outright attack the Families of the lower levels before.” Cassie shrugged.
“Wolfe, why do you have that suspicious look on your face?” Jane asked while staring deep into his eyes.
“You knew in advance, didn’t you? That the lower levels were going to rebel.” She continued.
“Not exactly. But they drafted Elders from the Crime Families who should have been exempt due to status and age. Really, I’m not surprised that they started a war. They crossed the line.”
Wolfe declined to mention that he had helped awaken the two Noxus Family Elders or that they could have done the same for others if they were still alive and had gained enough power. If the city had really fallen out of the Coven’s control, that information was best kept secret.
“What do you mean ineligible? Like over twenty-five, or they had already completed their service?” Priya asked, preparing to make notes of the answers she got for the runner who was waiting outside.
“Both. One that I saw was a career government worker over forty years old. He was a supervisor with waste disposal and an Elder of the Noxus Family. There is no way he should have been eligible for the draft, but we were told it was completely random.
Then there’s Beth, the little one that’s out training sword techniques with Nikki’s squad. She might look fairly mature, but she’s barely a teenager. She shouldn’t have been eligible either.”
“That’s good enough since we can verify at least one illegal draft to corroborate your information. I’ll send the letter back to intelligence, and they can deal with it from here.” Priya said, then gave everyone a warning look to remind them to keep their mouth shut.
“Alright, let’s gather the last of our things and move into the new barracks.” Reiko sighed, looking at their comfortable and blanket-lined bunker.
“I had new ones from the supply run delivered for us so the bunker can stay how it is, and whoever needs a silent nap can rest in here. Assuming Lieutenant Priya doesn’t object.” Wolfe replied.
“I like it above ground. But keeping this place stocked, hidden and ready is the best call. If the camp does happen to get overrun, we can at least bring the Witches and some survivors in here and put the barriers up until the tide passes.” Reiko agreed, reminding everyone that they wouldn’t always have easy days and mediocre battles ahead of them.
They all headed up for their new homes, and Wolfe went to go see how the prisoners were doing on kitchen duty. They had taken over all camp maintenance and cooking after they finished making the houses. It was a small relief to the soldiers and enough of a duty to keep the other units from accusing them of excessively coddling the prisoners.
They had finished the meal prep, as well as all of the laundry and the cleaning of the barracks, which gave Wolfe an idea. They weren’t supposed to have armour, but there was a disguise spell in the military manual that made regular clothes, which could replace the rags they were in, which were only getting worse every day.
The only other things that the camp had for regular clothing were military uniforms, which he wasn’t allowed to give to prisoners, even if he removed the insignia.
It was Witch Magic, though, so he went to talk to Jane, who happened to be nearby at the moment.
“Lovely Miss Jane. Could you cast a spell on the prisoners for me? I have found a much better outfit for them.” Wolfe asked.
“I’m not sure that’s wise. It’s customary to let them work in the same outfit until it falls off them and then give them new outfits if they’re still alive.”
Wolfe’s eyes brightened a little. “I’ll gladly rip their clothes off if that’s the solution.”
Jane giggled. “You really want to have a house full of Witches in frilly little maid dresses, don’t you?”
“You misjudge me. Who said anything about Maid dresses? I have a much more fun idea. In my neighbourhood, there is a cleaning service that does most of the restaurants and hotels. Busy Bee Cleaners.”
The outfit would be warmer than a cosplay maid dress, and the form-fitting tunics and yoga pants weren’t a bad look either.
“Oh, we have them in Sylvan Coven too. With the stretchy black pants and the black and yellow tunics? That would be amazing, like being back at home again. I’ll do it. Even if it makes the Lieutenant mad.”
The military boots the prisoners were wearing were clearly secondhand and falling apart just as much as the uniforms were, so Wolfe made a plan to get their entire outfit replaced while he led Jane to the mess hall tent.
Once they arrived, Wolfe raised his hand and cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. It was the usual way to pass orders and messages without stopping everyone from eating just for a short meeting.
“It has occurred to me that rags are not appropriate for food service duty.” He began, making a number of the soldiers chuckle in anticipation.
“Strip.” He ordered, causing the prisoner collars to force them to obey him.
“Now toss those rags into the fire. All of them.”
“Nudity in the kitchen certainly isn’t appropriate either, so the kind lady Jane has come to help me out. Any time you please, Jane.”
The cleaning company outfits, minus the logo, appeared in an instant, and the unit currently having dinner cheered. The cleaning service might not be well respected, and they were certainly among the most abused group of below-minimum-wage workers in the city, but the outfits still reminded the Witches of home.