by Alex Janaway
‘We are not ready,’ Michael stated. At best they had a small army, spread between here and Brevis, with a lot of space in between.
‘No. I don’t think we are,’ agreed the Admiral. ‘At least we ought to wait for the rest of the Nidhal to arrive from Aberpool. Then the Emperor will march south. And me? I’m heading west.’
Michael stepped back. The Admiral was the most senior, most experienced leader they had.
‘Why?’
The Admiral started walking again.
‘Because the Emperor, in his wisdom, wishes it. He wants me to go to Aberpool and await the arrival of our people. Then he wants them shipped to Vyberg to begin the rebuilding.’
‘But there is a fight coming, we need you.’
‘The Emperor doesn’t seem to want my advice on that front. In fact he doesn’t seem to want me around at all,’ Lukas said pointedly. He waved a hand. ‘Ach, I’m no good on land. Legs aren’t steady enough for it.’
They passed through a cleared gateway on to the wharf. A few cutters were tied up just down from where they had entered. The Admiral stopped once more. ‘Father, watch yourself. The Emperor is starting to have ideas I don’t like. Don’t get me wrong, the Gifted – not all of them – behaved like bastards. But some of the things he is saying? Well, it doesn’t sit right. Father, I know you are loyal, but you have a smart head on your shoulders. Look to who the Emperor surrounds himself with. And look to yourself.’
Father Michael felt his eyebrows furrowing. What was Lukas suggesting? It sounded almost … heretical. And from any other man, perhaps Father Michael would have acted differently. But instead, he just nodded.
The Admiral reached out and placed a hand on Michael’s shoulder. ‘I’m sorry to be leaving you, sorry I won’t be here for what’s coming. But just remember, you are not alone. If things go south, stick close to my marines, they’ve got your back.’ Lukas leaned in close, Father Michael could smell the chewing tobacco on his breath. ‘Understood?’
He believed he did. ‘Yes.’
The Admiral removed his hand. ‘Good man. I’ll see you on the other side.’
With that he took his leave, walking swiftly to the nearest cutter and climbing aboard. A few terse commands and the crew sprang into action. Michael stayed and watched as they readied the craft and cast off, the cutter quickly gaining the current. As it passed by, he raised a hand in farewell. Admiral Lukas, seated on a bench at the rear, having taken charge of the tiller, waved back. The cutter continued down the river, Michael watched it for as long as he could, until the dark swallowed it.
CHAPTER 36 – CADE
Cade pressed the palm of her hand hard against her forehead. What the fuck? What the actual fuck? She leaned back in her chair and frowned at the gaggle packed into her office. Devlin, Killen, Issar, Sent, and a bunch of faces she didn’t even recognise. And there was Krste! How the Hells did he get in here?
‘Dwarves, you say?’
‘Yes,’ responded Devlin.
‘Wood elves?’
‘Some,’ agreed Killen.
‘Heading this way?’
‘Looks like it,’ said Devlin.
Cade started to reach for the box which held her wine. Then thought better of it. But barely.
‘You know, I really thought we’d given those short-arsed bastards the slip,’ she said, looking at Devlin. ‘And I thought you’d spanked the wood elves into knowing better,’ she said, turning her gaze to Killen.
‘Bastards don’t know how to give up,’ said Issar, unhelpfully.
‘Word’s going to get out soon,’ Sent said. ‘What are we going to do?’
‘Pray? Go hide? Run?’ asked Cade. ‘None of those options are really on the table, are they?’ She drummed her fingers on the table-top. ‘Killen. Your boss is away on his errands. That makes you the one in charge, right?’
Killen looked at the leathery, hard-faced Highlander standing next to him. There was a slight nod. ‘I am,’ the Major replied.
‘Good. And are you going to throw your lot in with us for this little party?’
Killen’s lips quirked into a smile. ‘I reckon so.’
‘Good. You and Devlin both work for me until I say otherwise. The dwarves, how many did you say?’
‘We estimate a thousand or so,’ said Devlin.
‘When are they getting here?’
‘We think sometime at dawn tomorrow,’ piped up a female voice.
Cade craned her neck. ‘Who’s that?’
A hand appeared and a girl, maybe fifteen or sixteen summers, stepped forwards. She wore fur-lined leathers and gloves. One of the Eagle Riders? ‘And you are?’
‘Anneli, um, Cade. The brothers are up watching the enemy’s approach. After this I will go and join them.’
‘Shit on a shit,’ she muttered. No-one decided to add anything, so Cade stewed for a bit longer. They needed a plan to get out of this. But the best she could come up with was getting herself and as many of the crew as she could on to boats and making for the middle of the Brevis Sea. But that wasn’t going to save everyone …
Cade stood. ‘Alright. Who’s got the most cavalry? Us or them?’
‘At a pinch, with the camels, us?’ suggested Devlin.
‘Is it worth taking them on in the open? Maybe use those eagles?’
Devlin and Killen both made faces.
‘Looking at the pair of you, I’ll take that as a no.’
‘We can take to the field, but it leaves the island undefended,’ said Devlin. ‘You need people to defend the barracks and the bridge.’
‘We can do that,’ said that Highlander woman, Jenni. ‘We aren’t giving up the fight.’
‘Great. But that still won’t be enough. We are going to need everyone.’
‘Everyone?’ asked Issar.
‘Yep. Everyone. Best we start by getting the rest of the council in here as quickly as we can. Then they can get the word out.’
‘They won’t all be happy,’ said Issar.
‘They can kiss my rosy arse for all I care. If we are going to do this, I want every able-bodied person with a blade or a bow. I want them manning the walls of the barracks. I want them on the bridge, so they can be seen from the mainland. Everyone fights.’ She looked at Killen, then at Jenni. ‘Owen likes that sort of thing, doesn’t he?’
Killen’s eyebrows rose a little.
Cade stood.
‘Come on, then. Get to it. I want everything in place an hour before first light. You soldier types, go and do what you do. I’ll sort out my folk. Everyone else piss off and make yourselves useful. Oh, and Sent?’ The merchant stopped and eyed her suspiciously. ‘Look at getting some barrels of ale and water sent to the barracks. And let’s build a barricade on that bridge while we are at it, the island side. If it all goes tits up it’ll be easier to defend.’ He nodded, tight-lipped and stalked out of the office.
Rula was still there, shaking her head at Cade.
‘This is going to get messy, but you got balls.’
‘Always have had. You got anyone to help you with the wounded?’
‘There’s a couple of young-uns who know how to stitch. But, Cade, you know what’s coming. We’ve been here before.’
Cade sat down and reached for her wine. She was done with being the leader for a bit. ‘Yeah. I know. Not many options, though, are there?’
‘You’re right. For what it’s worth, we’ve not done too bad. You’ve not done too bad.’
Cade raised her cup in salute as Rula walked out.
Not too bad. Was that good enough?
Cade marched towards the bridge. She fiddled the leather belt tied around the chainmail shirt that Sent had presented her with. Taken from a dead dwarf and adjusted to fit her, it wasn’t a bad job. A long knife hung from the belt one side and on the other was a bag of quarrels for her crossbow which she carried slung over one shoulder. Even she thought she looked ready for a fight. Flanking her was Anyon and the rest of her old crew followed behind. Evan st
rode ahead calling for folks to clear the way. She nodded at familiar faces as she passed by, trying to read the mood. There was fear, yes. No problem with that. She was bloody shitting herself.
She’d heard a few had made a run for it, leaving Brevis in the small hours before dawn. One or two of the smaller boats had been taken. Good luck to ’em. She was a big believer in self-preservation. But they had better not show their sorry faces back here again.
There was a mood of quiet determination within the town. People were preparing, stealing themselves for what might come. What did she put it down to? This willingness to stand and fight. Why was she still here? Was it because they needed her? That she couldn’t let everyone down? Come on, I haven’t changed that much! Still, maybe there was some truth in that. People weren’t running because they were stronger now, they were tougher. Cade had grown up fighting for anything and everything. Nothing came for free or easily. And those that stood for Brevis had learned this truth. They had gathered to hold on to what was theirs, what they had earned. Their islands, their sea, their homes. Yeah. She got that. There was no bastard taking her vineyard away.
They reached the bridge. A crowd of people were clustered around it and several wagons were parked on the street to either side. The houses along this row crowded right up to the water’s edge and every window and rooftop with a view to the bridge and the mainland had someone armed with a bow hanging out of it or perched upon it.
Sent met them at the bridge.
‘Cade.’
‘Sent.’ She pointed at the wagons. ‘This looks familiar.’
‘Go with what works.’
‘Right enough,’ she acknowledged.
‘When the fighting starts we’ll partially block the bridge but leave a gap open for those falling back.’
‘Good.’ She nodded at him and started to cross.
‘Luck to you, Cade,’ Sent shouted.
She turned and waved to him. He was a bastard, but he never ran.
Cade led her people across the bridge and stepped into the open area of Devlin’s barracks. Two long buildings made up the flanks, stables on the left, quarters on the right and straight ahead was a long wall with a walkway and a closed gate. The walkway was crammed with people. Saul and Jenni were front and centre, as were a lot more of the Highlanders. That made sense, they knew how to fight.
Issar was standing at the gate.
‘Morning, Cade.’
‘Mornin’. Didn’t see you back at ours last night.’
‘Too busy.’
‘I suppose. What’s beyond that gate, then?’
‘Nothing good.’
‘Huh.’ She turned to her crew. ‘You lot can stay here.’
‘You sure?’ asked Anyon, looking unconvinced.
‘We got your back, Cade,’ added Evan.
She experienced an unexpected burst of maternal pride. ‘Nah, you lot stay here and keep the gate open. I might be sprinting back inside chased by a thousand dwarves.’
‘Just like old times then,’ grinned Anyon.
Cade sighed dramatically. Daft Bastard. ‘Alright, open her up Issar.’
He nodded.
‘Get to it,’ he said to some burly lads standing nearby. They pulled on both doors of the gate and it swung inwards, producing a disturbingly ominous creak.
Cade peered through. About fifty yards ahead a line of cavalry was arrayed, their backs to the gate, horses on one side, camels on the other. Perhaps another hundred yards further on was another cavalry line. And beyond that … well. She stepped through the gate and started walking. It took her a few seconds to realise she wasn’t alone.
‘Issar? What are you doing? Piss off.’
He shook his head, a determined set to his face. All he had was an axe, tucked into his belt.
‘Not on your life, Cade.’
‘Fine,’ she hissed.
They reached the cavalry line. Devlin and Killen waited in the middle of their respective commands.
‘Gents.’
‘Cade,’ replied Devlin.
Killen just nodded.
She took her crossbow off her shoulder, set the stirrup on the ground and pulled back on the string, keeping her eyes on the forces arrayed against them. The cavalry was wood elf. That was obvious, even though she’d never seen any before. They looked even more ragged than her bunch had when they’d walked out of the Dwarf Nations. She wasn’t impressed. The ones behind them though, they gripped her shit. A line of black-armoured dwarves bearing wide shields and long spears. They stood silently, immobile, like they were made of stone. Or weighted down to the spot by all that bloody metal. She seriously doubted her crossbow would do any damage against that armour.
An eagle flew low along the enemy line, and Cade spotted the others wheeling around, a little higher. It elicited no reaction from the massed ranks, but Cade felt strangely comforted by its presence.
‘For the record,’ said Killen, ‘I understand us lining up out here is a deliberate show of strength. But there’s no chance of us breaking into the dwarf lines. You know that?’
‘Yeah, I know.’ She turned to Issar. ‘Here.’ She handed him her crossbow and fished out a bolt. ‘Load this for me, would you? I might be back for it in a hurry.’
She left him juggling with the weapon and started walking again.
‘Cade? What the Hells?’ Devlin called after her.
She looked back.
‘It’s all good. Just bear with me.’
She continued, hearing Devlin muttering something about her being ‘a bloody nightmare.’
Ahead of her the wood elf cavalry didn’t move, but she felt the weight of their regard, their ill will. It was like a physical force. And she felt her spirit shrink a little. Sweet Emperor, I am mad. She stopped midway between the two cavalry lines and put her hands on her hips.
‘Good morning to you all!’ she shouted. ‘Trust you slept well last night?’
There was no response other than the snickering of horses and the gentle tinkle of a bridle.
‘Any of you lot speak Tissan? Or Erebeshi? We got folk who can translate if you–’
‘I speak your tongue,’ a deep, grating voice echoed, from the line of dwarf infantry.
Cade craned her neck to spot who that was. There was some commotion in the dwarf ranks and a figure stepped out. He made for the line of wood elf cavalry and halted there, speaking in hushed tones to one of the riders. Their voices rose, and the rider appeared visibly agitated, pointing a finger at Cade and then making a slicing motion through the air. Clearly not her biggest fan, then. The dwarf raised his hand and uttered some loud but firm words. This calmed the rider down, a little, and the wood elf turned to glare at Cade. The dwarf patted the rider’s leg and continued towards her. He stopped a few yards away and tucked his fingers into his wide belt. He wasn’t dressed like a warrior, his clothes were finer, if travel-worn, and a cloak of red and gold rested on his shoulders. His beard was long but well kept. His eyes, deep, dark and calculating. This one wasn’t a soldier, she was sure of it. But for all of that, he had an axe resting against his back.
‘Not taking any chances, huh?’ she said, tilting her head towards it.
A bushy eyebrow rose, and the dwarf grunted. ‘Quite the welcome you have made for us.’
‘Just wanted to show you the proper respect. After all we don’t get many state visits,’ Cade smiled winningly.
‘And is this what you think it is?’
Cade shrugged. ‘That depends on you.’
He tilted his head. ‘Are you the one?’
‘Huh?’
‘They say the exodus was orchestrated by a woman.’
‘Exodus?’ Cade had never heard of that word before.
‘A “rampage” is perhaps more apt,’ said the dwarf.
‘Ah, well, in which case. Yeah, that was probably me.’ Cade felt a little pride. She’d never been famous before.
‘You are younger than I imagined.’
‘Then why d
o I wake up with everything aching every morning?’
‘Wait until you get to my age.’
Good point. ‘You fixing on letting me give that a crack?’
‘Or I could just cut you down here.’
Cade made a reflexive swallow. It was a big axe.
‘But you haven’t decided yet,’ she stated. That they were even having this chat told her as much.
The dwarf looked up into the sky, tracking the flight of the circling eagles. ‘You didn’t have them back in the Nations.’
‘Funny who you bump into out here.’
The dwarf shook his head. ‘You know we’ve been following them for a while, they led us to you. Didn’t make much of a fist of hiding the fact.’ He jerked a thumb behind him. ‘The wood elves are not happy, they’ve got scores to settle.’
Cade ran a hand through her hair and sighed. ‘There’s been a lot of that going on of late.’
‘Aye. More than you know.’
‘Really?’
The dwarf opened his mouth then stopped. He closed it and went very quiet. Cade felt she was being sized up. Hopefully not as a trophy. Then he blinked. A decision made.
‘The whole world has gone to shit. You lot might not have started it, but given time, you probably would’ve. But it was – is – my job to try and stop that from ever happening.’ He sighed heavily. ‘And I failed.’
Cade was having trouble keeping up.
‘We took our fair share of spoils,’ the dwarf continued, ‘but we paid a price for our Tissan adventure. And, in my more even moods, I can’t blame you for doing what you did. Any respectable dwarf would have done the same. We are a proud race.’
Hope flared in Cade. ‘You’re saying we should forgive and forget?’
‘We don’t forget,’ he growled.
‘Fair enough.’
The dwarf rocked back on his heels. He looked back at his troops then inspected Cade’s ragtag army. ‘If we fight here, whatever happens I lose too many fine dwarf warriors. And they are needed elsewhere.’
This was it. Cade took a step forward and proffered a hand. The tension radiating from both lines was palpable. ‘Tell you what. I’ve got no Emperor damned need or desire to kick things off again. I just want to grow old and enjoy my vineyard.’
