The queen smiled. “Tonight, it is better to be fast than fragrant.”
Sevren lifted Muth Mauk into the cart, threw some hay over her, grabbed the cart’s handles, and began to push it as fast as he could without making a racket. Dar trotted alongside. As Sevren hurried through the winding streets, he looked anxiously at the sky. “Folk will be stirring soon.”
Eventually he reached an opening in the city’s thick outer wall. It was a narrow tunnel that was the same size as a doorway. A lit torch was set into its wall. Sevren approached it indirectly. “Someone’s inside,” he whispered. “Stay out of sight. Dar, I need the dagger.” Dar gave it to him, and Sevren hid the weapon in his jerkin before striding into the opening.
Braced against the wall, Dar could hear Sevren’s voice. “Yo there, watchman, King’s Guard here. Did someone pass this way tonight?”
“A murdant, sometime after midnight.”
“Why did you na stop him?”
“I knew him. He’s from the regiments.”
“That’s na excuse.”
“Don’t be tight-arsed. Since when do…” The man’s voice was cut short by a grunt followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground. The torch in the tunnel went out, and Sevren appeared. He handed Dar the dagger. “The way’s clear.”
Sevren had already opened the door at the tunnel’s far end. Dar spied the watchman’s corpse there. “You should leave now,” she said. “You’ve risked enough.”
Sevren hesitated.
“Go,” said Dar tenderly. “Ride south this spring. Buy your farm and forget me. I was just passing through.” She embraced Sevren and kissed him on the lips. When Dar led the queen outside the city’s walls, Sevren closed the door behind them.
There was a hint of morning in the sky, but the landscape was still dark and empty. Dar could make out the walls of the garrison and the hills beyond them, but little else. If Zna-yat was watching for her, he was too distant for her to spot. “Only little way farther,” said Dar.
“Good,” said Muth Mauk.
After the queen traveled a short distance, her breathing became labored. Soon, each breath was a rattling gasp. By then, the eastern sky was pink. Dar realized they could be seen from the city walls and their only hope lay in rescue by the orcs. She scanned the garrison for some sign of them but saw none. Suddenly Muth Mauk froze. “What is it?” asked Dar.
“Washavokis!”
Dar gazed about but saw nothing. “Are you sure?”
“They come from little building. Five are running. Another comes on horse.”
Dar heard hoofbeats and spied a man on horseback. He was still far off, but moving to circle around them and cut off retreat to the city. Apparently, he was unaware that the queen could barely walk. Dar assumed the horseman was Murdant Kol. Whether he had spotted her by dumb luck or by patient waiting made no difference, her fate was sealed. She halted and the hoofbeats slowed. Soon, Dar could make out soldiers on the road. They were jogging toward her. “Don’t be afraid, Auntie. They only want me. They’ll take you back to your room.”
“Thwa. I won’t return.”
“You must. You’re our great mother.”
Muth Mauk didn’t reply.
Dar watched the soldiers advance with a sense of dread and resignation. When the men were thirty paces away, they drew their swords. “Halt!” shouted one.
Dar wondered why he shouted, since both she and the queen hadn’t moved. Then Sevren sped past her, sword raised. He plunged into the advancing soldiers, blade swinging. Two fell almost immediately, and the deadliness of Sevren’s attack seemed to cow the remaining three. They fought so timidly that Sevren had the upper hand, despite being outnumbered. Another soldier fell, a leg nearly severed. The fourth soldier ran, spurring the remaining man to fight with desperate vigor.
Dar heard rapid hoofbeats and turned to see Murdant Kol riding Thunder and swirling his whip above his head. Bearing down upon them on his huge horse, he seemed unstoppable. Dar thought to warn Sevren, but realized that it would distract him in the midst of combat. Soon Kol would be within striking distance. I must do something! With no time to reflect, Dar acted on impulse. She drew the dagger Sevren had given her and threw it.
Kol was moving so swiftly that Dar had no idea if she hit him. She narrowly avoided being trampled. Then the whip fell from Kol’s hand as Thunder veered away from Sevren. The horse slowed and Dar saw the murdant pull the bloody dagger from his shoulder. He tossed it on the ground and reached for his sword. The blade was only partway drawn when Kol sheathed it. The action made Dar guess that Kol’s wound affected his sword arm. Instead of attacking, he spurred his mount toward the garrison. Sevren’s opponent glanced toward the retreating horsemen. It proved a fatal mistake.
Sevren was wiping the blood from his sword when Dar ran over to him. “Are you hurt?” she asked.
“One cut. ’Tis na deep.”
“Go! Go quickly before you’re seen!”
Sevren gazed up at the ramparts. “Too late for that.”
“Oh, Sevren, you were safe. Why did you…”
“I could na watch you die.”
“But Kol will bring more soldiers,” said Dar, realizing Sevren’s sacrifice would buy them only a little time. Already, Kol had nearly reached the gates of the garrison. They swung open as he approached.
Kol’s horse reared as orcs, not soldiers, poured from the gates. Perhaps because of his wound, Kol had trouble getting his mount under control. By the time he had Thunder turned around, an orc raced after him. Dar watched as the orc gained on the galloping horse and reached for its rider’s ankle. Then, with a show of heart, Thunder pulled away from the pursuer. The city’s gate was still closed and Murdant Kol headed his mount southward. Soon horse and rider were a diminishing speck in the distance. “Good riddance,” said Sevren, although he looked disappointed.
The orcs moved with amazing speed, and soon they knelt before their queen. Muth Mauk looked like a gnarled tree that had weathered a storm. In the rosy light of dawn she seemed radiant and filled with a strength that rose from a deeper source than her frail body. When she spoke, her voice was neither powerful nor loud, but commanding in its stillness. “I have returned,” she said in Orcish. “I fell under evil magic. My mind was clouded and my words were twisted. Dargu-yat saved me.” The queen had to pause to catch her breath. “I’m still weak from my ordeal. Dargu-yat will speak for me. Obey her as you would obey me.”
Dar gazed at the queen with surprise, but before she could speak, Zna-yat called out. “Dargu-yat, tell us what to do.”
Dar’s immediate impulse was to take refuge. “Return to walled camp.” There, she thought, I can give the queen some proper clothes and free the branded women. Dar pointed to Sevren. “This washavoki helped save queen. All other soldiers are our foes, but don’t kill them if they don’t attack.”
As the orcs headed back to the garrison, Dar had two of them carry the queen. Sevren asked what had happened. “The queen said I’m to speak for her,” said Dar. “I told them not to harm you and return to camp.”
“They should na stay there. In a siege, the king will have the advantage.”
“We have no desire to fight. All we want is to be left alone.”
“The king will give you na choice. Your orcs have rebelled. War has already begun.”
Thirty-eight
As Dar walked to the walled garrison, Sevren talked about their situation. “Time is on your side,” he said, “but only briefly. The king’s a wary man, so he keeps his generals in Taiben, but na his troops. He has his royal guard on hand, plus a few shieldrons of foot. That’s na enough to take on your orcs. He needs to summon more troops for that. But he assuredly will.”
“Sevren, this isn’t your fight.”
“There are but two sides, and I can na go back to Taiben.”
“You can take neither side and leave.”
“On foot? Nay, I’ve made my choice. I’m yours if you’ll have me.”
“
I could use your advice. I’ve seen little of war.”
Sevren smiled grimly. “And I’ve seen too much. You should know that the garrison was built as a cage, na as a stronghold. It lacks a well, and little food is stored there. In a siege, thirst and starvation favor the attackers.”
“How soon could an attack come?” asked Dar.
“There’s a regiment of foot that could reach here by late morning. Horse troops could arrive soon after. They’d suffice to pen you in the garrison until forces gather for a full assault.”
“So we should flee.”
“The king will na let you go unchallenged. Instead of running, take a strong position on a hill. Orcs are best in a head-on fight, something simple.”
Dar sighed. “I wanted to save the queen, not start a war.”
“You can win if the orcs fight to their advantage.” Then Sevren launched into an explanation of tactics, waving his hands in the air to represent opposing armies. Dar tried to follow his descriptions as best she could, but found it difficult to think of war abstractly. She was too intimate with its carnage to think of orcs and men as pieces in a game. War might be a game to kings, but they could watch in safety while others fought. Moreover, they had generals to guide their moves. Dar had only a guardsman. The orcs would be even less useful as strategists.
Despite her misgivings, Dar was prepared to give orders by the time the orcs neared the garrison. First, she halted them before the gates. “We will stay here just long enough to prepare for marching. All sons with capes, come speak with me.” She turned to Zna-yat. “Get my urkzimmuthi clothes for our queen, then join sons with capes.” She turned to Kovok-mah. “I’ll need your help also.”
Kovok-mah bowed. “Hai, Mother.”
Dar was about to enter the gates when Sevren tapped her on the shoulder. “You should post a watch,” he said in a low voice.
Dar hastily corrected her oversight. Then she had the queen carried to an empty barracks and ordered a fire to be built. As the room warmed, it began to fill with armored orcs. Garga-tok was among them. He had added many ears to the fringe of his cape since Dar had last seen it. When all the caped orcs had assembled, Dar turned to the queen. “Great Mother, do you have any words for these sons?”
“Listen to Dargu-yat’s wisdom,” said Muth Mauk. Then she hobbled over to the fire to warm her shaking hands.
All eyes turned toward Dar. For a moment, she felt overwhelmed. Then the press of circumstance forced her to speak. “Washavokis will fight. This place does not favor us in battle. Hilltop would be better. Tell those sons who follow you to hurry. When we march, washavoki mothers will join us. Honor them.”
The caped sons departed, leaving Zna-yat and Kovok-mah. “Zna-yat, watch over Muth Mauk and do whatever she needs. Kovok-mah, come with me.”
Dar strode toward the women’s building. “Remember how frightened I was when you first saw me?” she asked.
“Hai,” said Kovok-mah.
“Mothers here will be equally frightened. Some more so. I want them to see your goodness.”
“Do you still think I’m good?” asked Kovok-mah. “Are you not angry?”
“It was proper for you to obey your muthuri. I’m sad, not angry.”
“I’m sad also.”
Dar stopped before the women’s building. “Let’s make some mothers happy.” Dar unbarred the door and entered. Kovok-mah followed, and his presence hushed all the women inside. Dar addressed them in a loud voice. “All the soldiers are gone. Orcs now possess the camp.” A low, frightened murmur arose. “Now you have a choice. Your brands mark you as the king’s property. You can flee to him for use as he sees fit, or you can listen to me. I’ve learned orcs honor women and protect them. Soon, the orcs will leave this camp. If you join them, you’ll be safe and free.”
The room erupted in a din of voices. One called out, “How do we know the orcs won’t eat us?”
Dar shouted back. “Such tales are lies! Who among you survived this summer’s fighting?”
“I did,” shouted a woman.
“Tell them what happened,” shouted Dar.
“The soldiers left us to die. All my friends were slain.”
Still, the debate raged on. Finally Dar shouted, “You can wait here for the soldiers or you can leave with me now.” Then she led Kovok-mah outside and waited. About a dozen women emerged from the building, including the one who had survived the summer campaign. Dar waited for others to join them, but no more came.
When Dar realized that she could save only the few women before her, she grasped Kovok-mah’s hand. “This is Kovok-mah. He is kind and gentle. He speaks our language and will take care of you.” She turned to Kovok-mah. “Stay with these mothers and protect them.” Then she added, “Kaf tha sat therth, reefat pi Tahwee Ki.” When you see them, think of Little Bird.
Kovok-mah bowed. “Ma lo.” I will.
By early morning, Dar led the orcs from the garrison. In choosing their destination, she relied on an odd pair of counselors—Sevren and Garga-tok. Both favored a tall hill that overlooked the road to Taiben. It was sunny, but a chill north wind caused Dar to clutch her cloak about her. The garment was too large for her, having belonged up till that morning to an officer in the garrison. It bore a fresh bloodstain, but it was warm, and the mountain road would be snowy.
Dar marched at the head of the column alongside the queen’s litter. Zna-yat, Garga-tok, and Sevren accompanied her, along with two dozen seasoned fighters who served as guards. The remainder of the orcs marched as they had for the king—arranged in orderly shieldrons. The women walked in the middle of the column, wearing soldiers’ cloaks and guided by Kovok-mah.
As the orcs headed for high ground, a formation of foot soldiers appeared on the road to Taiben. The city’s gate opened and a mounted contingent of the royal guard, accompanied by two shieldrons of infantry, joined the approaching soldiers. The combined forces didn’t seem small to Dar. At first, she thought they would attack immediately, but they seemed reluctant to do so. The soldiers pursued the orcs, but slowly. Meanwhile, Dar quickened the march and the distance from the soldiers increased. This pleased her until she watched the king’s men change direction and move off at a forced march. Sevren observed this maneuver also, and his expression worried Dar. “What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I’ve been a fool,” said Sevren. “They’ll na face us on a hill. They’re going to take the pass and block our way home. We should attack before they’re in position.”
The queen spoke from her litter. “Grunat dati?” Fight today?
“Hai, Great Mother,” replied Dar in Orcish. “This washavoki son is skilled in battles. He says we’d be wise to kill washavokis while they’re unready.”
“Sons don’t advise mothers,” said the queen in her own tongue. “There shall be no more killing today. More important things will happen.”
Dar had no choice but to obey her queen, although she questioned Muth Mauk’s thinking. That battle will determine our fate. What could be more important? Dar could think of nothing. Even if the queen wasn’t delusional, her decision was terrible strategy. It caused Dar to recall Murdant Teeg’s claim that orcs lost battles because they lacked guile.
“What did the queen just say?” Sevren asked.
“We’re going to the hilltop,” replied Dar. “There’ll be no fighting today.”
“That’s daft!” said Sevren. “We can overcome that force, but it’ll be reinforced soon. The pass is narrow and the enemy will occupy high ground. Remember the Vale of Pines?”
“I remember, but the queen’s made up her mind.” Dar softened her voice. “It’s still not too late to leave.”
“I’d rather stay with you.”
“Then you’re a fool.”
Sevren smiled ruefully. “That’s been said before.”
The orcs reached the hilltop by midmorning. Wind had swept most of the snow from its summit. Using stones, the orcs marked the Embrace of Muth la, then erected their shelters w
ithin it. Afterward, the camp grew peaceful. Some sons gathered wood for the women, who began cooking what little food there was. A few orcs stood guard, while the rest retreated to their shelters. Muth Mauk basked in the sun, despite the cold.
But Dar felt far from peaceful. The quietness of the orcs’ encampment contrasted with the activity of the king’s men. From the hilltop, Dar watched them prepare for battle. First, she observed the enemy troops make their way north to the pass. Before the last of them were hidden from view, cavalry appeared on the road, riding from the south. They headed for the pass also. Dar felt certain they would join the other soldiers soon.
Seeing the royal army’s skillful deployment gave Dar a sense of doom—a conviction that their journey home would be bloody and their chances diminished as time passed. Dar felt it was imperative to attack immediately, and she went to convince the queen to act. She found Muth Mauk still seated outside her shelter. The queen was shivering and her breathing was labored, yet she smiled. “Long has it been since I sat under Muth la’s golden eye and felt her breath.”
“You’ll have many days to do that,” said Dar. “You should get out of wind and cold.”
“Did Muth la send you visions of my many days?”
“Thwa, Auntie.”
“I thought not,” said the queen, “so I’ll enjoy this one.”
Dar bowed very low. “Muth Mauk, my thoughts are troubled. May I speak them?”
“Please do.”
“I think we should start home today. There are washavokis that will fight us, but fewer now than later.”
“That’s not important,” replied the queen.
“Forgive my rudeness, but how is that not important? You are our great mother. Muth la sent me to bring you home. Those washavokis will try to stop us.”
“And why need I go home?”
The question took Dar aback, and it was a moment before she replied. “Poison has made you sick. You need healing magic.”
[Queen of Orcs 02] - Clan Daughter Page 23
