Stepping near the side of the wall, he called out his reply. “Then let the new Sultan come, bearing the royal scepter so that we can welcome him to our city. Until then, these gates will remain closed.”
The air maiden shrugged and calmly rolled the scroll, placing it back in the container before saying, “You have until morning to reconsider. The fates of many rest with your choice.”
Garrett withdrew and left silence in her wake. Orsa’s shoulders sagged almost imperceptibly. It only lasted a second before the man began barking orders as if nothing were wrong.
Kayleigh didn’t feel much like sleeping that night. She tried anyway. Smythe’s estate had comfortable beds that were much better than anything she’d ever imagined. Her simple bedding in Helden and even what she had at The Academy were meager in comparison. For the last two nights it had been more than enough. Tonight, with enemy horsemen outside the gates of a town she was not allowed to leave, she tossed and turned.
At the evening meal, the others had hung on Laurel’s recounting of the encounter with Lancer Garrett. By Kayleigh’s estimation, her friend gave Kayleigh too much credit. Their looks reminded her of how the first years had watched her when Kayleigh had killed those Yar. They toasted her and it only made her feel worse.
Knowing that sleep would not be coming anytime soon, she sat up, dressed, and crept down the hallway, trying to make as little noise as possible. Descending the stairs, she sat on a bench by the doorway and started putting her boots on.
A voice surprised her, saying, “You should be upstairs, young warrior.” Looking into a darkened room, she could only see a tiny light. It was embers from a pipe and the fragrant aroma of the burning plants reached her nose.
Focusing and adjusting to the low light, she recognized Smythe. “I figured I’d be useful and wash my unicorn. You can’t sleep either?”
“As I said before, I am the city and the city is threatened.” His words contained a simple, undeniable truth.
“The city has been around for longer than you have been alive,” Kayleigh said. “You don’t have to be this city.”
He puffed a series of smoke circles and replied, “I have reached a point in my life where I do not know how to be anything else. You are young and there are still many paths open to you.”
You’d be surprised. Instead, she tugged on her boots and nodded at the man. “Which army do you think gets here first?” Kayleigh asked.
“We’re counting on help from cities who are busy fortifying their own towns and praying for their own survival, or the grace of nearby kings. We can only hope that one of them decides there is enough strategic value in our city for them to decide to conquer us before this Master and his army arrives. Our dear captain has an army of beggars on the walls. Our defenses will not turn aside a determined effort, but I do not wish to depress you. Your friends whisper about you when they think no one is listening. They believe you are special.”
“I’m just a Battle Maiden,” she answered, starting to feel nervous.
“And I am just a humble merchant,” he replied. “Other than getting you out of my city, is there something I can do for you?”
Kayleigh frowned, trying to think of something she could use. “I guess I could use a sheath for this knife and a decent shield.”
“I will have them for you shortly. Go. Your unicorn waits.”
She flashed him a smile and he nodded. As she stood and placed her hand on the door to the courtyard, he spoke once more. “When the city does fall and you are forced to fend for yourself, it may be wise for you and the others to try and make it back here.”
“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind,” Kayleigh said and went out into the night. She considered the man’s offer. He might have a way out, but there was a nagging feeling that he could also be looking for a way to preserve his own hide and having a group of Battle Maidens to barter with would improve his chances when the city was captured.
Out in the night air, Kayleigh tried to clear her head. There were so few people in her life she could trust. The nearest were sleeping upstairs. Glancing at the stables, she wasn’t even certain she could count on her unicorn at the moment, much less a hardened criminal. Giving Rheysurrah a washing and a thorough brushing would hopefully be a step in the right direction. She’d also ask him his opinion. Soon they would have to make a choice and, despite their current problems, they were a team.
“Where is everyone headed?” Kayleigh asked Laurel as they rode out of Smythe’s compound. She’d managed to get a small amount of sleep after spending some time with Rheysurrah, but still felt exhausted both mentally and physically. As promised, there was a fine leather sheath, studded with tiny gems, waiting for her along with a durable shield. Smythe must have a considerable amount of pull to produce such things on so short of notice.
“Amanda is going to the docks to help with crowd control,” Laurel answered. “I’m over at the west gate. Tamera is joining you up at the city’s main gate.”
“Did you get a chance to tell the others about what our host said?”
The air maiden nodded and replied, “I told them at breakfast. I’m not sure what to think either, but as things stand I have the longest route through the city to get back here and my unicorn’s speed won’t be much help in these narrow streets. Our two earth sisters know to open a hole in the wall when it appears that the city is going to fall. There’s a village three days due south and slightly west of the river. If we get separated, I’ve told everyone to ride as fast as they can and meet there. Have you got everything you need in your saddlebags?”
It was Kayleigh’s turn to nod. “Not really much left. So much for all that over packing I did.”
It bothered her that she still hadn’t told Laurel about the original plan she and Majherri had made, but there was little sense in dredging up her previous mistakes, especially when it could only make matters worse. There was also her own pride that prevented Kayleigh from admitting how weak and lost she had felt before this trip. Now the young sorceress was more angry and scared, deciding to continue to protect that secret for as long as possible.
Rheysurrah sensed Kayleigh’s sudden reluctance and snorted his disapproval. She couldn’t be certain how much the unicorn had gleaned from the bond they shared, however Kayleigh suspected that Rhey now knew far more than she was comfortable with and wondered how much he had shared with the other unicorns. Waving goodbye to Amanda and Laurel, she fell in next to Tamera.
The earth maiden smiled and said, “Morning, Kayleigh. Rough night? My unicorn told me you were out in the stables for most of it.”
She nodded while saying, “Too nervous, I guess.”
“Me too,” Tamera said. “I miss when the worst thing I had to worry about was getting extra duty for having piled up demerits. At least it looks like we’ve got a clear sky today.”
To be perfectly honest, no one had expected the attack to occur the day after the nomad cavalry arrived. Infantry would be days behind, and without the sheer numbers, any assault on the walls would be a waste of lives.
That’s what everyone manning the front gate...including Kayleigh...believed would happen. Her faith in that wisdom lasted until a lookout spotted something in the sky. It was initially believed to be just a large bird joining the ever-present swarm of bewitched birds circling above.
Without the ability to send the messengers birds out, Orsa had tried slaughtering pigs to lure the carrion feeders out of the sky, so their numbers could be thinned on the ground. His plan was sound, but it failed in the face of the powerful enchantments on the birds flying above the buildings.
The object in the distance continued to approach and become larger, causing Kayleigh’s feeling of dread to grow.
That’s no bird! It landed behind the enemy lines and it was as if a rock had been thrown into a nest of wasps. The riders scrambled to mounts with a sense of urgency and there was movement everywhere.
One of the bowmen next to her asked, “Is it attacking them?”
Orsa lowered his spyglass. His face was ashen and Kayleigh saw the look in his eye.
“A manticore,” he said. The words just tumbled out of his mouth. “They have a manticore.”
I wish I knew what one was. Maybe I’m better off not knowing.
She only had a moment to process this before she saw the flash of metal. One of the beggars lunged with his spear and stabbed the captain in the back. Orsa’s eyes bulged as he stumbled forward.
It was only then that Kayleigh realized another man had a sword and was lunging at her. Without thought, a burst of flame from her hand met her attacker head on. The failed assassin screamed and fell backward to the ground below.
The men Smythe warned us about! Her thoughts resounded in her mind like Helden’s old warning bell.
She rounded on Orsa’s attacker, but found others had stripped him of his weapon.
The grizzled crossbowman, who had shot at Garrett, moved to Orsa’s side. Kayleigh knelt next to them.
“It’s bad,” the man said. “He will bleed out unless you use your flame.”
Grimacing, Kayleigh paused. Cauterizing wounds was taught in the fourth and fifth years. Pigs were brought to The Academy and wounded so the fire maidens could practice when it wasn’t a life or death situation - like now. She cursed not having her vial of healing tears anymore. Danella had taken it and probably used it to heal the wound Kayleigh had given her. Tamera was nearby, but Kayleigh was unsure if the earth maiden still had her vial of tears.
“I’ve never...”
“Do it, girl!” Orsa sputtered and spat onto the stonework.
Not knowing what she was doing, she stared at the piercing wound and wrapped fire around her first two fingers and squeamishly inserted them into the wound.
Orsa screamed and flailed violently despite the man holding him. Jerking her fingers out of the laceration in his back, Kayleigh stared at what she’d done and felt a wincing pain in her shoulder.
“Is he?”
“He’s still breathing, if that’s what you’re wantin’ to know,” the man answered. “Won’t be worth a spit if they’re going to attack though.”
He looked past her and said, “You three, carry him to his office, send for a healer to see if they can do more for him, and guard the door. No one but members of the city guard are allowed to enter!”
The men took Orsa from him and the veteran turned to the prisoner. “Are they going to attack?”
The disheveled traitor grinned and replied, “The Master is here and will snap you like a twig. Your walls are nothing to him!”
Drawing his long knife, the crossbowman took one step forward and rammed it into the man’s chest while saying, “Your words may be true, but you’ll not live to see if they are.”
The dying nomad was dropped over the side of the wall and his killer began shouting orders for the stunned men to get to their positions. She still felt ill at ease, angry, but ready to fight. The conflicting feelings lasted until a runner came up the stairs and pointed at Kayleigh.
“Your unicorn was attacked. It’s hurt, but it killed the two men.”
Taking the steps two at a time, Kayleigh rushed to Rheysurrah’s side. A man stood next to the proud male holding a blanket against her mount’s side.
“Let me see the wound,” she commanded.
As the soldier pulled the blanket back, she examined the wound. They’d tried to slash his neck, but Rhey had better reactions and they’d gotten him on the side instead. It answered the question of where the pain in her shoulder had come from and made her wonder if her actions on the wall had alerted her unicorn.
“Rhey, I’m going to seal the wound. I’ll try not to hurt you,” Kayleigh said.
The unicorn snorted and nodded his head as Kayleigh used her flame powers for a second time to cauterize a bleeding injury. This time was a little different as she suffered some of the same pain through the bond as she burned the wound shut. Fighting off her own tears, she dug a jar of salve from the saddlebags and spread it over the area.
“Are you okay?” she asked, looking into the deep pools of his eyes.
When he nodded once more, she continued, “Good, because it looks like the battle is starting any minute. They’ve got something Orsa called a manticore out there. It’s big and it flies, and if it’s going to attack somewhere, I think it’s going to be here.”
Despite all their misgivings and the things they had yet to settle, he gave his reassurance through the bond that he was with her. It was all she could ask. She felt his anxiety about the coming battle. His last fight at Annabeth’s side hadn’t gone very well and Rhey’s nerves were showing. It was an odd turn of events. Kayleigh had been in awe of Majherri’s unflinching determination when it came to combat and she was surprised…almost shocked that she sensed Rhey’s fear. He wasn’t Majherri anymore than she was Annabeth. With their bond, they could not hide from this stark revelation and it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
Voices from the wall above cried, “They’re coming! To arms! To arms!”
It was her turn to be the determined one. She climbed into his saddle and was careful not to touch his wound.
“We’re about as poorly matched as any rider and unicorn have ever been,” she said to him, acknowledging their misgivings. “But I will fight with you today and we will live to see tomorrow.”
She backed away from the gate. Rheysurrah wouldn’t be able to get up the stairs and onto the walls. Shiftla wasn’t designed like other cities to allow Battle Maidens access. Kayleigh had to settle for hurling fireballs blindly over the walls. The dead nomad’s words returned to her mind, whispering that his Master was here. Other than Kayleigh and the rest of the riders, there were no sorcerers of any type in this city. From the sky on his flying creature, he’d be able to kill at will.
Something was nagging at her mind as she felt the first signs of the charging horses. The ground shook with the pulse of thousands of hooves hitting the ground each second. Something about the tactics seemed off and didn’t make sense. She thought back to everything she’d been taught about strategy and warfare. They had no infantry or war machines!
“How are they going to get through the walls?” she said and realized the answer the moment the mumbled words left her mouth. The rest of what the nomad said raced into her mind. She’d assumed that when the man said the walls were nothing to the wizard outside, it meant that he had a flying beast and could easily get over them.
While that was true, it wasn’t what the assassin meant.
“Get away from the gate!” she cried, but her shout was lost in the massed screams of the men as three bolts of lightning swept across the men above her. Dozens died from the energy and the stonework became chunks of fast moving debris injuring more.
She saw the monstrosity flying high in the air as the human on it raised his staff. Raw magical energy coalesced around it and formed a large ball. Instead of a staff, it now looked as if the man carried a giant mace. With one swift motion, the man hurled the energy at the already weakened section above the gate.
The impact and detonation forced Rheysurrah to stumble backward. If they’d remained where she’d mounted him, there was little doubt in her mind that they would be dead already.
The gate still stood, but most of the stone on the right side had been blasted away and she could see the outside through the breaks. Only a pair of riders could get through, but she could already see a second ball forming. It would destroy the left side and the gate, while still almost completely intact, would fall with no support around it.
She stood on the main avenue and realized that in moments, a mass of cavalry would be pouring into the city like a pack of wild animals. They’d be trampled if they remained where they were.
“Off the main street, Rheysurrah! Hurry! Circle around and head up to the wall from the right side.”
Rheysurrah followed her commands. It was easier said than done with Orsa’s peasant army already showing its true colors
. The flying wizard wouldn’t waste his energy destroying all the walls. She could put the walls protecting her one side and her shield on her left arm would protect the other. Most of the enemy would head straight down the main street and if the two could survive the initial wave that came in their direction, they might stand a chance.
By the time they’d reached the side street, the gate had collapsed and the horsemen were already riding free into the city. A pitiful group of arrows met them from the few remaining souls on the walls, but Kayleigh saw them stop as the manticore landed on the wall and began racing along the top, forcing those who’d stayed to be crushed or leap down to injury or death. In horror, she watched as it jumped over her head and landed on the top of a flat stone building and bounded across the roof at speeds an air maiden would be jealous of.
Kayleigh could now say she knew what a manticore looked like – the lion’s body, furiously beating dark leathery wings, and that curled scorpion’s tail thrashing about with a mind of its own. It was the stuff of nightmares.
Rheysurrah couldn’t run at his full speed, as he had to leap over bodies and dodge the fallen debris. A mental jolt from him pulled Kayleigh’s attention from the manticore to a more immediate threat. She saw a group of horsemen fighting with some of the soldiers and armed peasants and she was coming up from behind them. Fortunately, none of the city dwellers were mounted. That made it easy. She aimed her fire high and sent two quick fireballs from her hands. The first overshot, but the second smashed into a rider and sent him down to the ground.
Fire was the great equalizer and the nomads spun into retreat, only to find themselves trapped between more of their number and the now advancing city militia. She used her flames again and again to great effect on this logjam of people and animals. It was brutal and grotesque and she felt sick to her stomach as the sounds of human and horse screams blended into one. The soldiers with her fought bravely, but even they began to fall. Several were trampled when one of the horses turned and bolted into them. Rheysurrah barely dodged the deranged animal as it barreled past.
Sorceress (Book 2) Page 11
