The Wizards' War

by Angela Holder

  The man took in Ravid’s wet pants with an impatient glance. “I’m sorry. Someone will get to it as soon as we can. Can’t you see how busy we are?”

  “I don’t care if every guildmaster in Tevenar wants to talk to you, you don’t let a child stand around in wet pants!” The other parents were all turning to see what the shouting was about. Meira didn’t lower her voice. They needed to know how their children were being treated. “I trusted you to take care of my son while I work to defend Tevenar. This is how seriously you take that responsibility?”

  He put his hands on his hips and glowered at her. “We’re doing our best. We’ve got ten adults looking after more than two hundred children. If you don’t like how we’re doing it, leave your child with someone else. We’ll be glad to have one fewer to deal with.”

  “I will. After I report you to Master Elkan.” Meira took a step nearer the man. “I left a change of clothes for him. Where are they?”

  He jerked his head toward a jumbled pile of sacks and bundles piled against a wall. “Over there somewhere. Jamis, help the woman find her son’s clothes.”

  Another man, who had a toddler on one hip and was talking earnestly with a child of around nine or ten, looked up. “Of course. Come, Master—”

  “Meira,” she supplied, following him as he set the toddler down and led her to the pile. “Ravid’s mother.”

  He smiled at Ravid, who gave him a wan smile back before burying his face in Meira’s shoulder. “His clothes should be down on this end somewhere. We try to keep them organized by age, but no one has time to put them in order when they get mixed up.”

  Meira poked the bundles around with her foot until she spotted the one she’d packed. “I understand you’re overworked, but this isn’t acceptable. Before we arrived here, Ravid hadn’t had an accident for months. He just needs to be reminded to use the privy occasionally, because when he gets busy playing he forgets. I didn’t think much of it the times he’s come home in different clothes; it’s got to be difficult to pay attention to so many children at once. But I always took it for granted you’d been changing him as soon as he needed it. Not letting him stand around in wet clothes for hours.”

  Jamis sighed and rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry. I wish I could say it was the first time. But to be honest, it’s not even the worst that’s happened today. We had a child fall down and split her forehead open earlier. I had to take her to the wizards. And yesterday a boy got out and was missing for hours. I haven’t wanted to bother Elkan, but I’m going to have to insist he assign us more helpers.”

  “Who?” Meira demanded, tugging off Ravid’s soaked breeches and pulling on a clean pair. “He hasn’t got enough—”

  Cries and shouts rose from the plaza outside. Meira exchanged a frightened glance with Jamis. “What’s going on?”

  “I don’t know.” He tilted his head. “They sound excited. Happy.”

  Meira clutched Ravid close. What if Jamis was wrong, and the shouts heralded an attack by the Ramunnans? She didn’t dare take Ravid outside the strong stone walls of the Hall until she was sure. But her place was with the new weapon, commanding its crew to load and fire into the enemy ranks.

  Swallowing hard, she shoved Ravid into Jamis’s arms. “I’ll be back to get him in a moment if it’s good news. Otherwise—” She clenched her fists. “Keep the children inside until you know for sure.”

  Jamis nodded as Meira strode to the big double doors. Harshly she ordered them barred behind her, then slipped through.

  Relief flooded her as a quick glance confirmed that no Ramunnans were in evidence, and the raised voices were indeed happy. Jubilant. A messenger perched on the sundial in the middle of the plaza and bellowed his tidings over and over in a hoarse voice. “I repeat, Tevenaran defenders engaged and defeated a force of three hundred Ramunnans. The battle took place at midafternoon on the road between Korisan and Elathir. There were no casualties. I repeat, Tevenaran—”

  Meira let out an explosive breath. No casualties. Elkan was all right.

  Better than all right. He’d won a dramatic victory. Her rapidly beating heart slowed as she pounded on the Hall doors and they swung open. “It’s safe,” she announced to the anxious adults within. “The Ramunnans attacked, but we beat them.”

  She hurried to Jamis and reclaimed Ravid. “Told you,” Jamis said, grinning.

  She gave a wry smile in acknowledgement and left him to deal with the rest of the children, who were picking up on their elders’ excitement and becoming even wilder and louder than before.

  She pushed through the milling crowds that thronged the streets until she reached the fields south of town. People lined both sides of the road, craning to catch the first glimpse of the returning heroes. Watchers struggled to keep order and a clear path.

  Meira cheered with the rest when the first horses emerged from the trees. Several figures led the procession, but she had eyes for only one. Elkan rode a pale dapple-gray mount with Tobi loping at its side. The mountain cat’s eyes were bright and her tongue lolled in her usual cheerful grin. Elkan looked better than he had in weeks. He shook his head and waved a dismissive hand when the crowd erupted in cheers, but he was smiling, and his shoulders were back and his chin high.

  Behind the leaders, mounted Tevenarans armed with spears surrounded trudging Ramunnans with bound hands. They poured out of the woods in an endless stream. Beside Elkan, the guildmaster of the Watch directed the captives and their guards toward the fields where the fighters camped.

  Meira frowned. What were they going to do with three hundred Ramunnan prisoners? They’d have to house and feed them, not to mention keep them under constant guard lest they escape back to Elathir or attack the people of Korisan while they slept.

  People crowded around Elkan. He turned from one to another, trying to give each his attention. Meira hung back as the throng pressed forward. He didn’t need her bothering him now. She’d go home to her tent and let Ravid run around while she washed his wet clothes. He needed time outdoors after being cooped inside stone walls for so long. She’d wait and speak to Elkan later. Maybe she’d catch him in the plaza during the evening meal. Both her report on the progress at the mill and her congratulations for his victory could wait until he’d dealt with more important business.

  A group of mounted figures approached Elkan, their riders’ strident voices raised above the noise of the crowd. As they pushed through the people surrounding him, the horse on the edge of the group came face to face with Tobi. It reared and lashed out with its hooves. Its rider struggled to control it. The other horses whinnied and jostled.

  Elkan grimaced and glanced at Tobi. The mountain cat loped away from the disturbed horse and its agitated fellows, slinking through the crowd with swift grace.

  As Tobi passed near Meira, her smooth stride hesitated. Her nostrils widened, her ears swiveled around, and she changed directions. Ravid squealed in delight as the mountain cat twined around Meira’s legs and thrust her big head against her hip, not relenting until Meira consented to scratch her ears. Across the field, Elkan’s head came up and his eyes searched. When his gaze met hers, he broke into an unguarded smile.

  Meira’s heart caught. Since they’d argued, Elkan had avoided her whenever possible and treated her with reserved courtesy when work forced them together. She grinned back, then knelt to give Tobi a good petting and allow Ravid to stroke her sleek fur. Elkan spoke briefly to those around him before he dismounted, gave his horse to a waiting herder, and made his way through the crowd.

  He crouched beside her and tousled Tobi’s head. “I guess you’ve heard the good news.”

  “No casualties.” Meira pried Ravid’s fingers open to release a pinched fold of Tobi’s skin. “It’s amazing. How did you manage it?”

  He snorted. “Luck, mostly. And the Mother’s power; there were plenty who would have died without it. Also, Benarre’s poor judgement in sending few enough for us to overwhelm. I certainly don’t expect to duplicate the feat.�
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  Under his self-deprecatory tone, Meira could hear both pride and relief. She kept her voice low. “Even one battle with no loss of life is a tremendous achievement. I’m proud of you.”

  He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “I’d braced myself to deal with the inevitable deaths, both ours and theirs. When they didn’t come… I felt as if I could float away. I still carry the burden of the lives lost in the first battle, and all those to come before this is over, but somehow the absence of a handful I expected more than balances their weight. It shouldn’t; each life is worth as much as any other, and I know it won’t last—”

  “Enjoy it while it does.” Meira kept her gaze fixed on him until he opened his eyes, forcing him to look straight at her. “Today you led Tevenar to a glorious, bloodless victory. You have every right to celebrate.”

  “Not bloodless; there were injuries—” He broke off at her mock-ferocious scowl and raised a hand to playfully ward it off. “All right, no more quibbles. You’re right. We should celebrate.”

  “I suggest you release some of the best supplies you’ve been saving and turn the Cooks’ Guild loose to do their utmost. Everyone will work harder tomorrow if we give them a good party tonight.”

  “Excellent plan.” He gave Tobi a final pat and straightened, extending a hand to Meira to pull her up. “I’ll send a message to Master Abran right away. Why don’t you come with me while I get things settled? I could use more of your good ideas.”

  “I’d be glad to.” Ravid’s wet things could wait until later. She scooped up her son and settled him on her hip. “What do you need to do? Deal with the prisoners first, I guess. Do you have a plan?”

  Elkan scowled. “I’m going to have to take people out of training to guard them.” He struck off toward the camp. Meira matched his pace. “Edniel recommends a rotating schedule. Hopefully in time we can persuade some of them to give us their parole the way Tenorran did.”

  Meira frowned. “Trusting one Ramunnan to keep his word is one thing. Three hundred of them is something else entirely.”

  “I know. But when the weapons are ready and we march on Elathir, I can’t afford to leave enough people behind to guard them adequately. Not when there’s nowhere to put them but open fields. We don’t even have tents to house them. It should be dry for another month, but you never know.”

  Meira gave a short laugh. “From what you told me about how the Matriarch treats her prisoners, they should thank the Mother if all they have to deal with is a little rain. But you can always put them to work building their own shelters. A few big sheds will keep them out of the weather and make it possible to guard them with fewer people at the same time.”

  “I like that. I’ll mention it to Master Edniel.” Elkan threw his arm around Meira’s shoulders and gave her a light hug. “We can do this, Meira. I really think we can. You should have seen how everyone fought today. They remembered what we’ve been teaching them, and it worked. I’ve got ideas for how to improve their training as well. Next time they’ll know what to expect, so they’ll be more confident. We outnumber Benarre’s forces. With weapons to match theirs, there’s no reason we can’t defeat them.”

  Meira glowed at the hope in his voice. “Assuming we can make our weapons match theirs,” she reminded him.

  His arm tightened around her shoulders. “You and Josiah won’t rest until they do. I expect he’ll breeze back into town tonight or tomorrow with the solution to the problem all ready to go. I won’t even be able to scold him for running off.”

  His voice didn’t quite match the blithe confidence of his words, but his worry for his apprentice was muted. Meira was confident Josiah had been careful not to get caught or hurt, but she was less sure he’d found what he sought. Not because she doubted his ability to discover the solution if it was there, but because she feared no solution existed. She hid her apprehension with a chuckle. “Assuming he didn’t find a way to single-handedly drive Benarre and the Armada out of Tevenar. Maybe we’ll get a message before long telling us to head home and start putting everything back to normal.”

  “I wouldn’t put it past him.” Elkan gave her shoulders a final squeeze, then pulled his arm away. He dropped his hand to Tobi’s head and rubbed his fingers hard against her skull.

  Meira echoed the prayer she knew must be running through his mind. Please, Mother, let Josiah be all right.

  * * *

  Tenorran sat by the window of his room in Master Ralshan’s house, listening to the music and jubilant voices from the celebration feast in the plaza. It sickened him, the way these peasants boasted about their pitiful victory. How difficult was it to defeat three hundred men with fifteen hundred? Including a hundred wizards? And the way they kept trumpeting the fact that no one had been killed, as if it was some great unprecedented mercy on their part that they’d let their enemies live. Stupidity, more like it. They should have slaughtered every one of their prisoners. Keeping them alive just gave them the opportunity to escape.

  Or for Tenorran to free them.

  He pulled out the little eating knife that was the only blade the Tevenarans allowed him and the whetstone he’d stolen. Even so meager a weapon could kill if it was sharp enough. The rhythmic rasp of steel on stone settled his jumpy nerves.

  He’d decided to break his parole. The only questions that remained were when and how. He’d only get one chance to strike a surprise blow against Ramunna’s enemies; he needed to use it well.

  Should he continue with the plan he’d formed over the last few weeks, or should he wait and make an attempt to free his captured comrades first? He hated to leave them prisoner, but Ramunna might be better served if he held fast to his determination and hit the Tevenarans where they were most vulnerable.

  What would Captain Noshorre advise him? Tenorran squelched the surge of anger that flooded him at the thought of his superior’s death and considered what the experienced officer would counsel. Loyalty to fellow officers was important, but not the highest priority. Soldiers might need to be sacrificed for the sake of strategy. If Tenorran could cripple the Tevenarans’ ability to fight and ensure the Ramunnans’ ultimate victory, he should leave his comrades to their fate and seize the opportunity.

  Nodding to himself, Tenorran put a few final touches on the knife’s razor edge and sheathed it. Now, while everyone was at the celebration, was the perfect opportunity. The mill would be deserted. If one or two people had been left to guard it, he could deal with them.

  He sauntered out of the empty house, taking his usual route to the public privy. He waited in line to use the facilities, returning the greetings of those neighbors who tried to be friendly, ignoring the gloating taunts and insults from those who were hostile. When he was finished, he turned toward the plaza, as he usually did at mealtimes. As soon as no one was nearby, he slipped into an empty side street and walked at a relaxed pace to the edge of town. The handful of people he passed were oblivious, intent on hurrying to the celebration or whatever affairs kept them from it. It was so easy he shook his head in disgust.

  The road north along the river was empty. The noise of the town died away, leaving only the quiet murmur of water, the rustle of wind, and occasional birdsong. Across the river, the sun sank toward the horizon, a ball of orange flame staining the landscape gold.

  Far down the road ahead, Tenorran spotted someone approaching. A lanky figure accompanied by a donkey.

  Tenorran froze, cold washing over him. What was Elkan’s apprentice doing here? He’d overheard a few comments that had made him think the boy had run off to Elathir, but he must have drawn the wrong conclusion. Elathir lay downriver from Korisan, not up. Probably Josiah had been working at the blasting powder mill. Supposedly the boy had designed it, although Tenorran found that hard to believe.

  Maybe Josiah hadn’t seen him yet, or at least not recognized him. Tenorran stepped off the road and crouched behind a clump of bushes. He fought to keep his breath silent. If the boy and donkey passed without pausing, Te
norran would remain hidden until they were well gone and then continue to the mill. If not…

  The sound of clopping hooves and falling feet drew closer. Their rhythm didn’t change. Tenorran breathed easier and took his hand off his knife.

  Without warning a golden cloud enveloped him. He couldn’t move. The light’s touch was warm, with a pleasant tingle, but it turned his limbs to stone. He fought it without result.

  Josiah’s face peered around the bushes. “Smash it, Tenorran, you promised not to escape. Now Elkan’s going to have to stick you back in that little cell. Get up. You’re going back to Korisan with us.”

  The gold light withdrew and he could move his limbs again. He climbed to his feet, spread his hands, and assumed a bemused expression. “Wouldn’t you have done the same?”

  Josiah snorted. “Probably.” He gestured, and the light pouring from his hand nudged Tenorran onto the road. “I should have guessed you’d do something like this as soon as I found out you lied about the weapon.”

  Tenorran’s face burned. He tried to sound innocent and confused. “I didn’t—”

  “We saw the grooves. I don’t really blame you for trying to fool us. We are your enemy. But it didn’t work. I know exactly how to fix our weapon so it will have the same range as yours. And I got a sample of your blasting powder, too, just in case ours isn’t the same. But I’m sure it is, and now we’ll be able to prove it.” The gold light shoved Tenorran back the way he’d come. “As long as you cooperate I’ll let you walk without restraint. But we’re watching you, so don’t try anything.” The gold light died.

  Tenorran glanced over his shoulder. One of Josiah’s hands pressed into his familiar’s back; he held the other poised for action. His eyes studied Tenorran, wary and smug. Tenorran gave a sheepish shrug and started walking.

  This was a disaster. If Josiah reached Korisan with his discovery, Tenorran’s attempt at sabotage would fail. The Tevenarans would be able to build weapons the equal of Ramunna’s. They might even be able to drive the Armada out of Elathir. Tenorran had to stop him, but how? He was a helpless prisoner again.