And sitting facing him, flanked by two of her daughters, was Shiika.
Tarrin was a bit startled to see them there, but he recovered himself quickly. Shiika could keep a secret.
"I think I see why you called me here," he told his sisters evenly.
"Hello, Tarrin," Shiika grinned. She was as lovely--and as dangerous--as he remembered her to be.
"One of the reasons," Keritanima chuckled. "How are you doing, my brother?"
"I'm alright, Kerri. How are all of you doing?"
"We do well, dear one," Dolanna smiled. "I have missed you."
"I've missed you too, Dolanna," Tarrin replied sincerely. "Are things well with you, deshaida? You look a bit annoyed."
"I guess I am," Allia admitted. "I had another exchange of words with Jula."
"You two should just make peace," Tarrin chuckled. "When did you get here, Shiika?"
"Yesterday," she replied. "Along with about five hundred of my soldiers. The rest are coming up behind us."
"Where are you right now, Tarrin?" Keritanima asked.
"We're in Watch Hill," he replied. "We just took it, and joined up with some of the Rangers. I don't know what's going on right now, because I'm not with the others. But I'd hazard to guess that we're going to make camp and set out for Torrian tomorrow."
"When will you get there?"
"It takes two days to reach Torrian," Dolanna told her. "They will arrive two days from tomorrow. If things go well, the attack will commence the following morning."
"That fits into the plans I've made," Keritanima said, tapping her chin with a finger. "How long will it take you to get here?"
"If I wait for the others, it could take at least ten days after we finish with Torrian. But I can get there in two if I have to."
"Two? How?"
"Sorcery," he replied. "Trust me. If I need to get there, I could be there two days after you call for me." He looked at them. "I'll stay with the army until we either get there or you tell me to come quickly. I get the feeling that they want me here."
"We all want you near, dear one," Dolanna smiled.
"You see, this is why I've always liked you, Dolanna," Tarrin smiled at her. "We have a Druid with us, but they may need my magic to take Torrian."
"A Druid? Who, and why is he there?"
"Not just a Druid, but also a bloody army of Woodkin," Tarrin told them evenly. "Centaurs, mostly, but with a large number of Were-kin to provide some additional power."
"How did they end up--"
"Haley and Sarraya," he interrupted. "They must have pled quite a case, because Fae-da'Nar decided that it can't turn its back on what's happening. So they've assembled an army of sorts, and that army is on the way to Suld. They've agreed to take Torrian because it's important to the defense of Suld, but after that, they're all going to race to Suld as fast as possible."
"And now we have Centaurs and Were-kin," Shiika laughed. "This is starting to turn into a world-wide affair."
"It is a matter that concerns the world, Empress," Dolanna said calmly. "If the Tower falls, the whole world will be changed because of it."
"True enough," Shiika agreed.
"Where is the enemy?"
"That's one of the reasons I needed to see you," Keritanima told him. "Three Ungardt clans attacked the army just outside of the Petal Mountains. They attacked them literally as they came out of the mountain pass, and from what the Aeradalla have reported so far, the Ungardt have the ki'zadun pinned in at the pass mouth. I don't have any reliable reports on what's going on right now, but I can tell you that the battle won't last long, and the Ungardt probably won't survive it. But what it will do is delay that army by at least two days. I'll take those two days, even if I don't like what it costs us to get them."
That was grim news. Every Ungardt army was a clan, and if the army was destroyed, then that meant that an entire Ungardt clan was going to be devastated. Ungardt didn't take orders well, every clan-chief more or less commanding his own people. Some Ungardt clans decided to come to Suld, but some of them obviously decided to attack the ki'zadun before they could get out of Draconia. He didn't agree with that decision, but he had to agree that every day the enemy was delayed was another day they had to prepare for their coming.
"We knew that was going to happen," Tarrin sighed. "Sometimes my mother's people can be very stubborn."
"I'm not too worried about the army now," Shiika told him. "My daughters have been busy getting ready for our cousins to arrive. We'll have all sorts of nasty surprises waiting for them."
"Like what?"
"Like making weapons that can harm Demons," Keritanima replied. "Mainly arrows. We intend to kill as many as possible as far away from the city as we can."
That's part of it, one of the Cambisi sent her thoughts. He looked at her, and realized that it was Anayi. And he was surprised that he could hear her thoughts, since he was actually in Watch Hill. We also made sure that no Demon can teleport itself within a hundred spans of the city walls. That will keep them from appearing inside the city and wreaking havoc, which is what I'll guarantee they'll try to do first.
"My daughters arrived with a very extensive list of preparations to make," Shiika added. "They've nearly finished the list. I'm very proud of them."
We understand how serious this is, mother, the other sent her thoughts. Our own lives and well being depend on holding Suld. It was very effective motivation.
"Yes, facing a total destruction of your life can really spur you," Shiika chuckled. "We're going to be ready for them."
"Any word on if they know we know they're coming?" Tarrin asked.
"Nothing solid yet," Keritanima grunted. "The spy is still hiding too deeply for Jula to find her, but I do think that Jula's keeping her pinned down. I'd rather her be dead, but she's just as neutralized if she can't send any warnings."
"We can help with that, your Majesty," Shiika offered. "Now that my daughters are almost done with the preparations, I can spare one or two of them to scour the Tower for this traitor."
"How will they find her?"
The same way we do this, Anayi sent with a smile. We can hear as well as send thoughts. All we have to do is wander around and listen to the surface thoughts of those around us, and we'll come across your traitor eventually. Thoughts are usually much less constrained than words or body language.
"That is a clever idea," Dolanna said appreciatively. "Would it hamper the work they have yet to do?"
"Not if I only spare one or two," Shiika replied. "Now that I'm here, I'll wander around and see if I can find her myself. My own gifts are much stronger than my daughters'. I can hear much more than they can, even dig a little without giving myself away."
Few can hide secrets from our mother, Anayi said proudly.
"You can hear thoughts?" Keritanima said nervously.
"We're very discreet, your Majesty," Shiika grinned. "Unless, of course, what we hear impacts our negotiations, of course. I'm sure you'll find that out the next time we sit down to work out a trade treaty."
Keritanima glared at the Demoness.
"It's only polite to warn you, after all," Shiika said grandly, leaning back in her chair.
Keritanima's cheek fur ruffled, her version of a blush. "We digress," Dolanna said delicately. "I think that the aid of you and your daughters would be welcome, Empress."
"I'll send Anayi out as soon as we finish up here," Shiika said. "We'll probably have your spy in the bag in three days, depending on how disciplined her mind is."
"Is everyone going to get here before the ki'zadun?" Tarrin asked pointedly, changing the subject.
"I think they will," Keritanima replied. "My furthest troop ship is six days out, so all the Legions will be in place. I have a solid report that the Selani are inside Sulasia, and they'll probably hit the Dals in Jerinhold in about six days, then be here three days afterward. Ungardt longships have been arriving one after another for nearly a ride, and we have a pretty formidable number of Unga
rdt here. They keep getting drunk and trashing the waterfront," Keritanima laughed. "We need that army to get here just so they stop trashing Suld and start trashing something else." She grinned at him, then got back to business. "If the Ungardt do delay the ki'zadun by two days, that means that it's going to take them about fifteen days to march down from Draconia after reorganizing themselves after the attack. Alot of what they had to do was get out of the mountains. They'll move very fast once they hit open country, because Golblinoids can move fast without mounts, and from what I've seen, most of the humans in the army are mounted. It's a huge army, my brother," Keritanima said soberly. "I never dreamed there were that many Goblinoids in the world, let alone just here in the West."
"How big?"
"I don't have a solid figure, but tens of thousands would be a conservative estimate," she frowned. "It's going to take every fighting man we've got to repel that kind of a force, but we can do it," she said confidently. "We have the advantage, because we'll be defending, and we know what's coming at us. They'll give it a fury of a run, but they're going to come up short."
"May the Goddess make it be so," Dolanna said fervently under her breath.
"Well, add Fae-da'Nar to your list, Kerri," Tarrin told her. "If things go right, they'll march into Suld a couple of days before the army gets there."
"We'll be happy to have them," Keritanima smiled.
"I'm going to have to go," he apologized. "It really upsets Jasana when I do this, and I don't think I want her agitated in her condition. Remember, if you really need me, call me. I can be here in two days at the most."
"We'll do that if it comes down to it, Tarrin," Shiika assured him. "Good luck with Torrian."
Tarrin nodded to her. "Cheer up, sister," Tarrin told Allia with a smile. She was usually quiet when they were discussing things like this, but he felt that she was being just a little too quiet.
"I will cheer up when you are with me again, deshida," she told him calmly.
"I'll feel better too," he smiled. "I have to go. Be well, all of you."
"May the light of the Goddess shine upon you, Tarrin," Dolanna said in farewell.
"Be careful, brother," Keritanima told him with a sober look.
"Good luck," he said, and then he withdrew from his projection and allowed it to dissolve.
Chapter 27
The news he'd received from Keritanima didn't really improve his mood all that much.
Tarrin opened his eyes and stood up in one smooth motion, causing the others to stop what they were doing and look at him. Jesmind had Jasana firmly in her arms, probably to prevent her from running over and interfering with what he was doing, and it looked like they were doing nothing more than talking while waiting for him. The look of relief on Jasana's face was evident and palpable, and it made him worry slightly. If she was so afraid of what he was doing, it may cost her dearly on the inevitable day when she herself would be forced to do it herself, forced to choose between joining with the Weave or perishing from being Consumed. It was what she would have to do herself. He realized that he had to make her not afraid of it somehow, show her that it wasn't something to fear. That way she could do it herself when the time came.
"Well?" Jesmind asked as he focused on them.
"The Ungardt have attacked the ki'zadun," he sighed. "They don't stand a chance, but they're going to delay the enemy for about two days. That will give us time to reach Suld first."
"How long do we have to get there?" Kimmie asked.
"Kerri estimates that we have fifteen days," he replied. "It'll take us two to get to Torrian, one more to attack it, then about ten to get to Suld. That cuts it very close."
"You really think we can go from Torrian to Suld in ten days?" Kimmie said dubiously.
"They'll have to find a way, Kimmie," he said bluntly. "Either way, I think that they're going to do it without me."
"What?" both Kimmie and Jesmind said quickly.
"I don't think I'm going to travel with the army," he said, holding up his paw. "I want to get to Suld fast. I want to be there. I think that after we take Torrian, we're going to go on to Suld on our own. We can get there in two days."
"How in the furies are we going to get to Suld in two days?" Jesmind asked acidly.
"Sorcery," he replied simply. "I'll summon an Elemental that will carry us to Suld. It can get us there in two days, if it hurries."
"What is that?" Jesmind asked.
"An Elemental is a sentient creature made up entirely of an element," Tarrin told her. "They can be made of earth, air, fire, or water. I'll summon an Air Elemental to carry us to Suld, because they can fly quickly."
"Fly?" Jasana said, her ears picking up and her eyes getting bright. "We'll be able to fly?"
"Well, the Elemental will be doing the flying, cub," Tarrin smiled as he walked over to them and sat down beside his mate. "We'll just be along for the ride."
"Oh, can we do that, mother?" Jasana asked in a suddenly sweet, excited voice. "Please please please please please!?"
"Is it safe, mate?" Jesmind asked dubiously.
"Perfectly," he replied. "The Elemental will obey me, and it will be very sure not to drop anyone. I used one to get over the Sandshield."
"They could summon Elementals with Arcane magic once, but the Elementals never obeyed willingly," Kimmie mused. "Since Sorcery is a magic of nature, I guess the Elementals are more willing to obey a Sorcerer's commands."
"I didn't know Wizards could Conjure Elementals," Tarrin said in surprise. "I was taught that they couldn't do that. That only Sorcerers and Druids could conjure them."
"There are references to it in the books I've read," Kimmie told him. "Maybe they stopped doing it for so long that people thought that they couldn't do it."
"Possible. I've come to discover lately that we really know almost nothing about magic," he said ruefully. "We're just children compared to the Ancients."
"The books I've read about Arcane magic agree with you," Kimmie chuckled. "The Wizards during the Age of Power were said to be able to conjure Demon Lords and move mountains with their magic when necessary."
"The same goes for the Sorcerers," Tarrin agreed. "Maybe it's a universal case of inflated ego."
"Papa said it was safe, mama!" Jasana pleaded with her mother. "Can we go flying? Please?"
"Well, if your father says it's safe, then alright," Jesmind agreed. "I don't think I'm going to like it, but if we have to get to Suld that bad, then I'll put up with it."
"Have room for one more on that Elemental, Tarrin?" Kimmie asked with a smile. "I want to meet this Phandebrass of yours."
"Room for two more, actually," Tarrin said. "I want to take Thean too. He's very wise, and he may be useful in Suld. Thean's like Triana, he has enough experience to be an asset no matter what you ask him to do."
"If you can get him to agree to it," Kimmie chuckled.
"Oh, I think he will," Tarrin said.
"This means I can go?"
"You're going, Kimmie," Tarrin assured her. "Jasana would be too pouty if I left you behind."
"I would not!" Jasana objected.
"Yes you would, cub," Tarrin teased. "You like Kimmie."
"Well so do you," Jasana countered.
"And so does your mother," Tarrin said, unruffled. "Now then, it's starting to get a little late, so I think we should think about heading back," he announced. "They should have everything pretty much well cleaned up by now."
"Aww," Jasana grunted. "I like it here, papa. Can we stay here tonight?"
"No, I think it would be best to stay near the others, cub," he told her gently. "Don't worry. As soon as we get there, I'm sure you'll like being there as much as being here."
"No I won't. They'll all talk to you and drag you away, then you'll come back and be in a bad mood, and that will put mama in a bad mood too."
"I'll try not to get in a bad mood," Tarrin chuckled, "alright, kitten?"
"Well," she hedged.
"And I promise I'
ll take you with me if I go anywhere."
"Alright!" she said happily, jumping up from her mother's lap. "Let's go let's go!"
They got up and then started back for the village, but they didn't get too far before Jeri met them on the path. "Sathon sent me to get you, Tarrin," Jeri told him apologetically. "And that Arren fellow wants to see you."
"Well, we had good timing, that's for sure," Kimmie chuckled.
"I said they'd come get us," Jesmind reminded them.
"We should have made ourselves harder to find," Tarrin said.
"You wouldn't have been able to hide from me, Tarrin," Jeri said with a grin. "I may be a cub, but I'm still one of the best trackers among us."
"Not if I cheat," Tarrin told him with a slight smile.
"Well that's unfair."
"That's the point."
Jeri gave him a look, then laughed.
It didn't take them very long to get back, and he saw that they did indeed have everything well in hand. Most of the Dal bodies were gone, and the thick columns of smoke rising from the other side of the hill told him that they were cremating the dead. The villagers were all out of their homes now, running around in dubious excitement, children following the Centaurs around in utter fascination. Rangers for the most part occupied the village, but there were a few Centaurs and Were-kin there as well. Not that the villagers were confining themselves to the village. Many of them were out on the open fields surrounding the village, looking like they were doing what they could to help their liberators, from offers of food and goods to offering help erecting the camps for the night. It looked like the Watch Hill villagers were very happy that the Dals had been overthrown.
Jeri led Tarrin into the village, and Jasana looked around in fascination as they climbed up the hill and were eventually led into a small shop on the west side of the hill. The inside of the shop was bare, but a large table and several chairs occupied the open floor between the door and the counter near the back. Sathon sat at one of those chairs, and Mikos had somehow managed to maneuver his bulk into the room and kneel down on one side. Karn was there, as well as Jak, and so was a sharp-featured Were-kin female with black hair and sharp, dark eyes. Sitting facing the door was Arren, with two of his Ranger lieutenants. Arren had not aged well. His hair and beard were now more gray than dark, and there were dark circles under his eyes. The burdens of being occupied had worn on Arren, it seemed. Arren stood and smiled when Tarrin came in, but his smile dropped slightly when Jesmind came in right behind him. It seemed that Arren remembered Jesmind just as well as he remembered Tarrin.
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