by Fire
But the enemy are spread out, he reminded himself, and unprepared.
Besides, if Rendle did his part, he would soon have another four thousand cavalry and Prince Lynan Rosetheme, a symbol Salokan would use to best effect. As well, he had ten thousand regular infantry and cavalry in reserve and encamped near his capital, though he hoped never to have the need to call on them. This war would depend on speed and luck. If things went well, he would soon control all of Hume. He would then add a sizable merchant fleet to his own, possess new grazing lands, and control access to the Algonka Pass. Perhaps he could even fortify the pass and control it outright. Imagine the tithes and taxes from that. His mind did some quick and not too fanciful calculations. He liked the numbers that rolled around in his mind. With that kind of money, he could double the size of his army and come close to matching Grenda Lear soldier for soldier.
And with Prince Lynan in my hands, perhaps I could force Chandra into an alliance. I could guarantee Tomar’s independence from Kendra. He would like that, I think. Then I would match Grenda Lear in every respect.
But only if this first stage worked, he reminded himself.
He knew it best to remain pragmatic; if worse came to worst, he must know the time to retreat back to Hume to lick his wounds and wait for another opportunity.
Just now, however, having watched his wonderful army march past in all their glory and untested courage, it was hard to be pragmatic.
More tears came to his eyes, and this time he did not bother to wipe them away.
Prado’s forces were moving slower than he liked. There was no problem with his cavalry, but the five hundred Arran archers were not used to marching long hours over alien territory and in winter. He had made sure they were all properly equipped for the cold, but the short days, the gray skies, and the melting snow all took their toll of morale. He knew the hardest part was still to come—the climb over the Algonka Pass, where altitude would add to their misery—but once in the Oceans of Grass things would improve, so he hurried them mercilessly. His troops hated him for it now, but would thank him later on. His captains—Freyma and Sal—knew from their own experience what he was doing and supported him completely, as did the older mercenaries who had gone through the Slaver War, so it could have been worse.
His scouts were already at the base of the Ufero Mountains, and so far there was no sign of any Chett movement. The threat of war had forced him to throw out his initial plan to raid into Haxus itself, but there was no reason why he could still not force Lynan and his protectors into action by raiding the Strangers’ Sooq. If he could return to Kendra with Lynan’s corpse, he would be a made man; Areava might even let him keep his force intact for action against Haxus at a later date. Whatever, he could not go after Ren-dle this spring as he had hoped, but maybe in the summer or spring of the following year.
Prado was eating his evening meal of thick vegetable soup when Freyma, looking excited, interrupted him.
“News from the pass?” he asked.
Freyma shook his head. “One of Charion’s border riders stopped by to get a fresh horse. Salokan has made his move.”
Prado did not hide his surprise. “Already? Any sign of Rendle?”
“No, not that the rider could tell. He only saw light cavalry, and they were dressed in Haxus colors. He said they were screening.”
“So Salokan’s infantry can’t be far behind.”
“That’s the rider’s guess. He only waited for a new mount to be ready and then was off again.”
Prado put down his bowl. “We don’t want to get in Salokan’s way.” He stood up and buckled on his sword belt. “As soon as the evening meal is finished, we set off again. I want to be at the pass in two days.”
Freyma nodded; Prado knew as well as he that the troops would not like it, but they would like it less if they found themselves overwhelmed by an army from Haxus.
“Get Sal and come back here.”
Freyma left, and Prado shouted for his orderly. A young man burst in. Prado gave orders for the horses to be readied and the tent taken down, then strode outside. He placed a map on the ground and pinned it down with two daggers. His captains appeared, Sal slightly out of breath.
“I want you to take a company and guard our right flank,” he told Sal. “Don’t engage the enemy. If you see them, send a rider to let me know their position and then retreat. If we have to, we’ll follow the Barda River to the pass rather than take the main road.”
“Do you think Salokan is trying to secure the pass?” Sal asked.
“He will if he has any brains at all, but it won’t be his first priority. He has to bottle up Hume’s forces first.”
“He might send a small force to secure this side of it,” Freyma said.
“If so, you’ll shadow it, Sal. When we’re ready, we’ll take care of them and be across before Salokan can follow up. He won’t send anyone after us until he controls the whole province anyway.”
“Things are happening faster than anyone expected,” Sal said.
Prado sheathed his daggers and rolled up the map. “Good for us,” he said. “Enemies in a hurry make mistakes.”
“You’re thinking of Rendle,” Freyma said.
Prado nodded. “I can hope,” he said. “But no matter. If Salokan is here in Hume, then we’ll have a free hand in the Oceans of Grass. If we take the Strangers’ Sooq, only the Chetts will be able to respond, and we can handle any clan that comes against us.”
“As long as it’s only one clan,” Sal said.
Prado stood up. “Most of them will still be at the High Sooq, a month’s hard ride from the Strangers’ Sooq. By then, we should know which clan is protecting Lynan and can make our move.” He studied his two captains. They looked grim, but ready. All three knew the time had come to commit their force to action or withdraw over the border and stay out of the way until the war between Haxus and Grenda Lear was decided. If Freyma or Sal had been in command, the choice could have gone either way.
But with Prado in command, there was really no choice at all.
Chapter 19
The light coming through the trees spread in a golden fan. Lynan cocked his head and listened for the sound of birds and insects, but there was none. A breeze moved the canopy high above. He took a hesitant step forward, his boot settling in soft brown humus. He could smell the rotting leaves and twigs. Bright fungi decorated the bases of tree trunks. The air was cool and moist.
The faintest of sounds. Like the flight of a passing arrow. And again. Not an arrow, but a bird’s wing. Lynan stopped moving, looked up among the trees. And again. No, not a bird; the sound was too leathery to be a bird. A bat, then.
He saw something moving among the topmost branches. A shimmer. He let his eyes unfocus, moved his head slowly. There, a flurry of wings, but gone as quickly as it had come.
And then a face, only a glimpse, but a face he knew. He felt fear and desire. He wanted to run away, and he wanted to wait. He could not make up his mind.
The smell of humus again, but something else underneath, something more carnal.
“No.”
He decided to flee. He turned around and started running, but it was like moving through water; his legs would not move quickly enough. The sound of flapping wings was much closer now, just behind him, then above him again. Then in front.
He stopped, his breathing ragged. The light seemed to dissipate, leaving only shadows. Branches and leaves flurried, and there she was. So young, so beautiful. Green eyes held his. He did not want to run away anymore.
“Where have you been?” she asked. “I have been searching the wide world for you. You belong to me.”
“No,” he said, but the desire in him was stronger than his fear.
“Yes. Look at your skin. So pale and cold.”
“No.”
“We can be together. Always.”
“No.”
“Come to me.”
Lynan walked to her. Her arms spread out for him, embraced hi
m. Her breath was ice cold and fetid. She kissed him on the lips, then on the throat, then on the chest. Her hands moved over his back, forced him closer. He saw her eyes change shape, and he could not look away.
“You want me as much as I want you,” she said, and kissed his lips again.
“Yes,” he said, and knew it was true.
She laughed, held him so tight all his breath was squeezed out of his body. Two black wings spread from her back, slapped together, and he felt himself lifted off the ground. Branches whipped by them. She laughed and they rose into the sky. He glanced down and saw the world disappear beneath them.
Lynan?
He looked at her, but she was distracted. She was searching for something below them.
Lynan?
It was not her voice. When she opened her mouth she did not say his name but cried in sudden fury. She let him go, and he fell from the sky.
“No!”
“Lynan!”
He shot out of his bed, eyes wide open but not seeing. Two hands grasped his shoulders and he jumped away from them.
“Get away from me!” he cried.
More voices, a man and a woman’s. Flaring brightness.
“My lord? What is the matter?”
Someone was holding a brand. Someone with a red hand. “My lord? Are you ill?”
“Give me the brand,” said another voice, the voice he had heard calling him. “Leave. He was dreaming. Do not tell anyone what happened.”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
The light retreated. He saw a hand place the brand in a bracket. Then he saw a face in the light. He knew her. A strong face, golden-skinned.
“Korigan?”
“Yes. You were having a nightmare.”
“A nightmare?”
“Can you remember it?”
Lynan closed his eyes. Wisps of memory drifted in his brain—a dim forest, a pale woman, the smell of death—and then were gone. He shuddered. Korigan’s strong hands helped him back to his cot.
“It was more than a nightmare, I think,” he said. He faced Korigan. “Why are you here?”
“I heard you in your sleep,” she said.
There was something in her voice that told Lynan she was lying, but he said nothing.
“Are you cold?” she asked.
“No.”
“You should put some clothes on.”
He looked down at himself, saw that he was naked. Worse, he had an erection. He scrabbled for the blanket and placed it across his lap.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered.
“I’ve seen worse,” she said, half smiling. “What do you mean, it was more than a nightmare?”
Lynan shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“What was her name?”
“It wasn’t like that,” he said shortly.
Korigan sighed. “That is not what I meant. I know what happened to you, Lynan. I know about Silona.”
He shuddered involuntarily, and Korigan came closer to him, put an arm around him. “It was Silona, wasn’t it?” He nodded. “Have you dreamed about her before?”
“No.”
“My people have stories of the old vampires who used to inhabit the Oceans of Grass.” Lynan looked up in surprise. “Oh, yes, we had them, too. But they were hunted down and killed a long time ago. All the vampires on this continent were destroyed by our ancestors, all but one.”
“Silona.”
“She was the strongest. Even this far away we know of her. All humans dream of her at least once in their lives. For you, it is worse.”
“She was calling for me.”
“I was afraid this would happen.”
He stared at her. “You knew?”
“No, I did not know. But I suspected. You have her blood in you. That would give her some hold.”
“How strong a hold?”
“The closer you are to her, the stronger it will be.”
Lynan started shaking, and Korigan held him even more tightly.
“Your people will not let her take you, Lynan. I promise you that.”
Her breath was warm on his cheek. In the half light of the brand, her eyes were as golden as her skin. For the first time he found himself thinking of the Chett queen just as a woman, and for the first time in a long time he felt real human desire stirring in him.
There was a commotion outside. Korigan pulled away from him just as the flap to his tent opened and one of his bodyguards entered. The man looked at both of them with something like curiosity.
“Your Majesty, I’m sorry to interrupt—”
“You’re not interrupting anything,” Lynan said too quickly, and stood up. He remembered to keep the blanket in front of him. “What is it?”
“It’s the clans, my lord. They’re gone.”
Makon’s face was white. “Three main clans—the Horse, the Moon and the Owl—and four lesser.”
“How did they leave without us hearing them in the night?” Lynan asked.
“Easy enough to do,” Korigan answered. “They had days to maneuver their herds to the edge of the sooq. They have probably been sending detachments away for the last week.”
“How many warriors have we lost?” Kumul asked.
“At least fifteen thousand,” the queen answered glumly. “And they are only the clans who have publicly separated from us. Many others will be thinking along the same line.”
“But why?” Lynan asked. “What made them do it now?”
“They have probably been planning this for some time,” Korigan told him. “They had to wait until winter was almost over so that there would be some grass growing for them in their own territory, and they had to move before you gave the command for the army to move out.”
“Kumul, how many of your lancers were from the missing clans?” Lynan asked.
Kumul shrugged. “I am not sure. Perhaps two hundred out of a thousand.”
“And the Red Hands?” Lynan asked Makon, who commanded them in the absence of his brother Gudon.
“None have gone,” Makon said proudly. “The Red Hands are sworn to protect you above all else.”
“The loss in troops isn’t that great, then,” Lynan said, more to himself than the others.
“It is the loss in morale that concerns me,” Korigan said. “The longer we wait here, the more chance dissension will spread.”
“Let me go after them,” Kumul said angrily. “I’ll bring the clan heads back, and their clans will follow.”
“You could not do so without violence. They will obey Lynan, but not you, and certainly not me now.”
“Then I will go—” Lynan started.
“You cannot,” Korigan said firmly.
“A king cannot chase his subjects, your Majesty,” Ager added. “You would lose respect and authority.”
“They have been very clever about it,” Korigan said. “They have not disobeyed any command. They just left before a command could be given them.”
Lynan sighed heavily. “We have no choice. To keep the rest of the Chetts behind me, we must move the army now.” He turned to Makon. “Spread the word among all the clans: their remaining levy is due today.” He then turned to Kumul. “Get your lancers together, all that are left. They will take the van. Let the clans see what we have built.”
The two men nodded and left, glad to have something to do. Lynan faced Korigan and Ager. “Ready your people. We leave the High Sooq today.”
“Do you travel with the White Wolf clan?” Korigan asked.
“For a while. The army will march east, and I will lead it.”
“I will come with you,” Ager said quickly.
“You are a clan chief now,” Lynan said. “You have other responsibilities.”
“I will come with you,” Ager repeated, more firmly. “I will bring as many of my warriors as the clan can spare. The remainder will take the herd to our spring feeding grounds.”
Lynan nodded, not willing to argue, especially when any extra warriors would be welcom
e. “Thank you, my friend.”
Ager smiled and left, leaving Lynan with Korigan.
“It seems to me that I am always forced into action by the actions of others,” he told her. “It would be nice to take the initiative once in a while.”
“If you act quickly enough, you will regain it,” Korigan said confidently. “No one could have predicted that Eynon, Piktar and Akota would move their clans away so soon. We will not make the mistake of trusting them again.”
“Ah, but that’s the hard part,” Lynan said. “We will have to if the Chetts are to stand together, and it is only by standing together that any of us will withstand the storm that is coming.”
Lasthear came to Jenrosa. “I must ride, and you must come with me.”
Jenrosa obeyed without hesitation. The two women skirted the main part of the sooq and rode to the top of a hill. From there they could see the clans starting to disperse, and in the center the gathering of Lynan’s army.
“My people have never seen anything like this,” Lasthear said. “Your prince has wrought greater changes than he knows.”
“Are you afraid?”
Lasthear laughed. “I am always afraid.” She touched Jenrosa gently on the arm. “That is the nature of our calling. We see, hear, and smell things no one else can, and that brings us knowledge. Knowledge is fear.”
“I don’t understand. I always thought knowledge freed us from fear.”
“Some knowledge, no doubt,” Lasthear answered ambiguously but did not continue.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“To help in a seeking.”
Lasthear opened a leather pouch attached to her saddle and withdrew an eagle’s feather. “For seeing far,” she explained. Then she withdrew something round and leathery. “A heart from a karak boar, for strength.”
Jenrosa blinked. This was too close to shamanism to make her feel comfortable, but she said nothing. Lasthear held the feather and dried heart in her hand. She muttered a few words and her hand was surrounded by a faint yellow glow. When she took her hand away, the objects remained suspended in midair.
