Besides which, the dragons didn’t like him. Every time he entered the aerie he was greeted by growls and roars from the monsters. Gilligan suspected that Stigi had been talking. Karin said that was impossible, but Gilligan knew better.
Of course planning was the major form of preparation.
“It is in our favor that nothing has tried strongly to breach the physical barriers,” Bal-Simba told the group assembled in his work room. “The Enemy has not had the opportunity to learn how to defend against it.”
“It seems to have put up defenses enough,” Dragon Leader remarked as he studied the magical map showing the known patrol routes from the City of Night
“We think that’s more reflex than planning,” Jerry said “If you’ll notice these tracks pretty much match the Dark League’s patrolling when they controlled the city. But circumstances have changed and that leaves holes here,” he said as he stabbed a finger onto the map, “here and especially to the south.”
“What’s more, they’re not flying smart,” Gilligan said, “at least not from what the Watchers have seen.”
“We have not been allowed to test these fliers yet.” There was a note of reproach in Dragon Leader’s voice.
“That will come soon enough,” Bal-Simba told him. “Meanwhile we do not want to, ah, ‘tip our fingers.’ “
“That’s tip our hand,” Jerry corrected “Yeah, we want them dumb when we hit them.”
Bal-Simba caught his air group commander’s expression. “Never fear, you will have the opportunity to test them very soon, but under controlled conditions.”
“Meanwhile,” Jerry said, “the basic plan for the main attack will be to lure him out over the Freshened Sea with a dummy strike and then hit from another direction.”
“Bakka Valley,” Gilligan said.
Kuznetsov nodded. “Koyuechno. We spoof them to show themselves and then the second wave eliminates them.”
Dragon Leader nodded “We can expect most of their air power to be drawn north, but that still leaves their ground defenses plus whatever they hold back for point defense.”
“Well, there’s a trick we used on the second Schweinfurt raid,” Charlie said.
Gilligan did a quick calculation and gave Charlie a hard look.
The older man caught it. “Okay,” he amended. “Someone used it when the Eighth hit Schweinfurt the second time.”
Dragon Leader ignored the byplay. There is still the problem of the inner defenses.”
“We may just have to fight our way through those,” Bal-Simba said. “Expensive, I know.”
“Maybe we can come up with something as we go along,” Jerry added.
Dragon Leader looked thoughtfully at the map.
TWENTY – SKY ZOMBIES
Well, Dragon Leader thought, at least the rain has stopped. Not that much of an improvement. The air was clammy with moisture and the cold and damp seeped into everything. There were no warming spells which might give them away to the enemy they sought so carefully.
Dragon Leader pulled his inner flying cloak closer about him, breathing in the odor of lanolin as he drew air through the thick wool to try to keep out the cold. Behind him nearly a full squadron of the North’s dragon cavalry spread out in stepped formation. It was no comfort to him to know the riders were all as miserable as he was.
Somewhere ahead of them lay—what? The forces of the Enemy. Probably other dragon cavalry, so the Watchers said, but his job was to find out for certain. His other job was to be cautious in doing it. Well enough, this wasn’t the time for open battle if it could be avoided, and he and his troop would go carefully.
He scanned the sky ahead, eyes always moving, looking off the center of his vision to catch any movement. Not that he could see far. The wan winter sun was nearly at its zenith, but below them was a solid gray mass of fog-like cloud, tinged with rainbow where the sun caught it right.
Dragon Leader shifted uneasily in his saddle. He didn’t like this at all. Fighting in clouds was bad business and according to the Watchers their quarry preferred clouds and darkness to light. That was odd, but not unknown.
Dragons, being sight hunters, preferred to fly by day. Just one more peculiarity to weigh upon him.