The Wizards' War

by Angela Holder

  Josiah grinned in satisfaction and gave Sar an enthusiastic slap on the rump. Good work.

  The donkey swept his ears back and forward. His mental tone was placid, but Josiah could tell he was very pleased. Let’s get back to the fighting.

  With their source of replacement bows eliminated, the number of Ramunnan archers shooting quickly dwindled. The Tevenaran foot and mounted fighters advanced down the road, the two weapons in their midst. Josiah and Sar rejoined the other wizards following them. Ramunnan soldiers harried them from side streets and alleys but couldn’t stop their progress. Many fell with dislocated hips, many more to Tevenaran arrows, knives, or spears. The first Tevenarans reached the intersection and turned to approach the bridge across the Tarath.

  Shouts drew Josiah’s attention. His legs and arms felt leaden, and his stomach was achingly empty despite the massive breakfast he’d consumed, but he had to see what was happening. Sar, a window on the bridge?

  The donkey snorted and laid his ears back, but complied. The window’s viewpoint hovered high over the river. Ranks of Ramunnan soldiers were marching across the bridge.

  “Yes!” Josiah exulted. Their plan was working. The knowledge put new vigor into his steps.

  By the time they rounded the corner Sachiel and Aphron were positioning their weapons. None of the Armada ships were in the river, so they fired at the soldiers crossing the bridge. Soon a friendly competition developed over who could send their shots closer to the enemy without hitting the bridge and setting off a premature explosion. When one of Sachiel’s shots knocked the hats off a dozen Ramunnans, Aphron threw up his hands and conceded.

  The Tevenaran forces gathered around the weapons. Josiah and the other wizards worked to heal the many injured. They healed the Tevenarans fully and sent them to rejoin the fighting. The Ramunnans they only stabilized, both to save energy and to keep their foes easy to control. Josiah might have questioned the policy if he hadn’t been so exhausted.

  One group of foot fighters ventured onto the bridge. They put on a great show of fighting to push the Ramunnans back until they were nearly a third of the way across. Then they gradually let themselves be overwhelmed and retreated little by little. They sent their wounded back to add to the wizards’ load.

  Josiah looked up from a closed arrow wound and saw Master Rosir and Master Ferin studying the bridge, both of them frowning. He dragged himself to his feet and plodded over, leaning on Sar. “What’s wrong?”

  Ferin pointed. “Fewer Ramunnans than we hoped are crossing the bridge. Only about two hundred.”

  Rosir nodded curtly. “I estimate we fought around two hundred and fifty. That leaves more than a thousand for Elkan and Edniel. They’re expecting fewer than eight hundred.”

  Josiah looked at the bridge. The first Ramunnans were approaching the shore and the last were almost halfway across, with no more venturing behind. “Maybe Savir shouldn’t destroy the bridge after all. Then we could cross over and help.”

  “That’s what I’d recommend, except we have no way to communicate with Savir. I don’t even know where he is.” Rosir scowled. “I don’t suppose you could find him, Ferin?”

  She shook her head wearily. “I doubt it, and it wouldn’t help anyway. He wouldn’t know to open a window back. We weren’t able to set up a schedule for reciprocal contact. And right now Elkan’s too far away to reach.”

  “We have to warn him.” Rosir turned to Josiah. “Has the bird come back?”

  Josiah scanned the sky. “I haven’t seen her. But maybe she arrived while we were fighting and stayed out of the way.” He pivoted to search the rooftops and the trees along the river. “Nirre!” he bellowed, raising his arm. “Tharanirre! Where are you?”

  For a moment he felt ridiculous. The Ramunnans on the bridge pointed and conferred. Then a screeching cry reached his ears and a bright shape swooped from a stand of trees.

  Josiah gasped and reached for Sar. Gold light spooled out to snatch the flight of arrows that sprang from archers on the bridge. Ferin and Pounce joined their efforts. Nirre plummeted to land on Josiah’s forearm. Arrows kept coming, but when the Mother’s power continued to render them useless the archers eventually gave up.

  “Smart girl,” Josiah said, in Ramunnan so Nirre would understand him. His voice shook. “You stayed out of sight. I’m sorry I didn’t think before I called you.” He switched back to Tevenaran. “Should I send her to Elkan now?”

  “I’ll write a message,” Rosir said. “Then I’m going to call our people off the bridge. Savir will have to decide for himself what to do.”

  He took the pen and notebook Josiah offered and propped it on Sar’s back while he wrote. After blowing the ink dry, Rosir tore the page from the book, rolled it, and handed it to Josiah. “Let’s hope this gets through, or Elkan’s going to have a nasty surprise.”

  Josiah accepted the message. As Rosir turned away, an idea struck him. He unrolled the paper and scrawled a hasty addition. Lots of arrows, busy blocking. Take shields, use instead.

  Josiah rerolled the paper and tucked it into Nirre’s message tube. He stroked her head. “We’ll keep the arrows on this side away from you, but once you’re out of our range you’ll have to take care of yourself.”

  She bobbed in what looked like understanding. Josiah had to be satisfied.

  Aphron and Sachiel were shooting at a warehouse on the far riverbank. Smoke from a dozen blasts of powder filled the sky, drifting in a rolling gray billow across the water. “Hide in the smoke as long as you can,” he told Nirre. “Find Elkan.” He walked close to the weapons and tossed Nirre into the air.

  The eagle vanished into the rolling smoke. Sachiel’s weapon fired, then Aphron’s, sending new waves of black to thicken her cover. None of the Ramunnans on the bridge even loosed an arrow. Josiah watched for a long time, but he didn’t see Nirre emerge. He could only trust she’d made it across the river and into the trees on the southern shore.

  He headed to where the other wizards were still healing the wounded. Farther back, some of the fighters were gathering bodies and laying them in rows. Josiah gulped. There were so many. A lot wore Ramunnan uniforms, but nearly as many didn’t.

  Noise on the road drew his attention. Foot and mounted fighters clustered around the end of the bridge. The Ramunnans were making a determined effort to gain the shore. Their archers sent arrows raining onto the Tevenaran defenders. Josiah groaned and switched course. Sar, looks like we’ve got more work to do.

  Sar pushed under his hand and sent golden light to fling arrows aside. Josiah watched the Ramunnans’ progress. Maybe Savir isn’t going to destroy the bridge after all. If he doesn’t do it soon, there won’t be much point. I wish we had a way to contact him and tell him not to.

  Josiah pondered the problem. Savir and Music were probably watching the battle through a window, so maybe he could do something to get the wizard’s attention.

  He could walk out onto the bridge. Savir wouldn’t set off the explosion while he was there, and he’d zoom in his window to see what Josiah was doing. Josiah would explain the situation, and Savir would call off the sabotage. They’d need to use the Mother’s power to remove the pots of powder tucked among the bridge supports, because if they were left in place they might be set off accidentally.

  Wait. That was a much easier solution. Josiah brightened. Sar, we need to go down below the bridge and—

  A flash and boom cut him off. The far end of the bridge erupted in a burst of wood and stone and crashed into the river. A rolling wave of noise and destruction traveled down its length. The Ramunnans cried out and crowded forward, but only a few made it off the end before the bridge exploded under their feet and crumpled into the water.

  A cheer went up from the Tevenarans. Josiah scowled, then shrugged. Savir had followed the plan. It wasn’t his fault the enemy hadn’t cooperated.

  Sar stepped toward the river, swiveling his ears forward. The Ramunnans who survived are shouting for help.

  They’ll
swim to shore.

  I don’t think they can.

  Josiah rolled his eyes. All right. He followed Sar to the riverbank.

  Some of the Ramunnans had floundered to land, but more were struggling to stay afloat. Josiah’s heart caught as he saw one head slip under, then another. They both emerged, gasping for breath, but immediately sank again. Neither would last long without help. Others were in nearly as much trouble.

  Josiah slapped his hand on Sar’s back and yelled to the other wizards. Sar grabbed one of the drowning men and dragged him to safety. The donkey went after the other, but he’d vanished, and their groping tendril of light couldn’t find him beneath the murky water. While Josiah was still watching for the man to bob to the surface, Sar turned his attention to another Ramunnan. More wizards and familiars came to join them. Soon the surviving Ramunnans were huddled in a bedraggled group on shore, surrounded by wizards and fighters.

  Rosir took charge of ushering them and the other Ramunnan captives into secure buildings. Ferin organized the wizards to heal the remaining injured. Fighters continued to gather the bodies. Tevenaran volunteers emerged from their homes to offer congratulations and aid.

  Josiah and Sar finished with their last patient. Ferin told them to find a place to rest. Sar went to the nearest grassy spot and devoured a few mouthfuls before closing his eyes. But Josiah was restless. He wandered down to the riverbank and looked across the water. The rectangular shape of the Mother’s Hall peeked above the lower buildings. So far everything was quiet. If Elkan decided to follow the plan despite the news Tharanirre brought, he’d attack at midmorning. Any time now.

  Josiah shook his head. It was hard to believe the sun was only halfway up the sky.

  He hated being stuck here. The rest of the battle would take place only a short distance away, but they couldn’t get there without going many miles around. There weren’t any boats on this side of the river. Eventually Elkan would send someone to ferry them across, but by then everything would be over.

  A dull boom rumbled across the water. Josiah swallowed. The attack had started.

  He clenched his fists. Elkan would need every bit of help he could get to fight many more Ramunnans than he’d planned for. It was ridiculous for several hundred good fighters and twenty wizards to sit here idle, so close, yet so far away. He had to figure out a way to get them across.

  Thirty-Four

  Elkan turned to look at Meira. She rode beside him, practically glowing in the bright summer morning. He felt much the same way. Awake and alive, exquisitely aware of the beauty all around him. Most especially her beauty. Every time he drank in anew the shining chestnut of her hair, the warm brown of her skin, the elegant curves of her face and figure, he marveled that she’d chosen to share all that rich loveliness with him. They’d spent hours exploring and discovering and celebrating, giving and receiving, learning and enjoying. And loving, always loving, until they were both drunk and replete with it. Then they’d slept wrapped in each other’s arms. When he woke he might have believed it a glorious dream, except for the solid and undeniable reality of her body against his.

  She turned and smiled at him. Elkan’s heart leapt, and he grinned back. He probably looked ridiculous, like an apprentice besotted with his first sweetheart, but he didn’t care. Let everyone see how things stood between them. On Restday they’d be standing up together; there was no point trying to hide it until then. Hopefully by that time the Ramunnans would be routed and they’d be in the Mother’s Hall, but he fully intended to announce their union to the world even if they had to do it in a hasty impromptu service by the side of the road as they retreated.

  His smile faded as he returned his eyes to the road ahead and his thoughts to what awaited at the end of it. So far, everything was going according to plan. Tharanirre had arrived with a message from Josiah saying the northern force was about to attack right on schedule. Not long afterward, low thunder-like rumbles had announced that the weapons were in action. Once the Ramunnans’ attention was focused on the far side of the river, the main Tevenaran force would sweep down on them from behind.

  Elkan pictured the layout of Elathir. His work as a wizard had taken him all over the city, so he knew every part intimately. Three large roads led into the city from the northwest. He’d sent smaller divisions, each with one weapon, to advance along the other two, while the main force approached on the southernmost. A short distance ahead it branched. The left fork led to the Mother’s Hall, while the right fork passed the reservoir and followed Mill Stream to the river. Most of Elathir lay in the wedge between the two.

  According to Savir, the Ramunnans had spread their soldiers throughout the city. The officers occupied the Mother’s Hall. Several large groups were housed near the market. Smaller groups were scattered throughout the residential areas. Outposts guarded every road. Armories stocked with arrows, bows, swords, and spears were placed at strategic points. The blasting powder weapons remained aboard the ships, which were anchored well out in the ocean.

  The main Tevenaran force would proceed along the road that passed south of the city. At intervals each of the six weapon crews, accompanied by wizards, archers, foot and mounted fighters, would turn north and make their way through the city, driving the Ramunnans before them. Elkan would lead the first along the major road uphill to the Mother’s Hall. Edniel would take the last all the way down to Prison Point and turn back along the river. They would attempt to force the Ramunnans to the docks. If the Ramunnans were sensible, they would realize they were defeated, board their ships, and retreat.

  Elkan grimaced. He feared the Ramunnans were anything but sensible. When the ships moved in, their weapons would probably open fire on Elathir. That’s when the Tevenarans’ weapons would prove their worth. They could destroy the Armada ships, or at least force them to stay out of range. Unfortunately, that would leave the Ramunnans with no avenue of retreat. He’d prefer not to take large numbers of prisoners, but if they refused to leave peacefully once they were overwhelmed, it would be that or kill them. He prayed they’d have the wisdom to surrender instead of fighting to the death.

  A new series of rumbles sounded, closer this time. Meira smiled grimly. “Hard to believe it’s just the two of them. I hope Aphron doesn’t get careless and cut corners trying to keep up with Sachiel.”

  “They must have made it to the bridge. If we can time our attack for immediately after Savir destroys it, the Ramunnans will be in an uproar.”

  “Are we almost there?” Meira looked around curiously. They were still riding through thick forest, with only occasional farms to indicate people lived here.

  Meira had never been to Elathir before. Elkan wished he could introduce her to his home under better circumstances. “The city comes to the edge of the woods here. We’ll have cover right up to where the buildings begin.” He looked around, spotting familiar landmarks. “About a quarter mile.”

  She nodded, tense but contained. “Good.”

  A wave of fear threatened to swallow him, but he shoved it away, summoning fierce resolve in its place. Tevenar would win this battle, and he and Meira would survive it. He’d do whatever it took to make that happen. There was no other option.

  Tobi? We’re getting close. You’d better come back. The mountain cat had been unbearably smug all morning. Elkan had finally sent her to hunt to escape her teasing.

  She sent him the sensation of teeth ripping into meat, hot blood filling her mouth. Be there as soon as I’m finished.

  Elkan winced. Her casual viciousness sometimes horrified him, though she was only acting in accord with the nature the Mother had given her kind. Don’t take long.

  I’ll try, but this is awfully good. She sniggered. Although I bet it’s not half as tasty as what you had last ni—

  Elkan rolled his eyes and shut out her mental voice. Once the battle started she’d have more important things to think about and would drop the subject. He hoped.

  Wings swooped overhead. He held his arm up and N
irre landed on it. Her talons dug into the leather brace Josiah had given him. Surely his apprentice remained unharmed if he was able to send a message. He opened the tube and extracted a rolled sheet of paper.

  Rosir’s words poured ice water into his stomach. At least two hundred more Ramunnans than they’d expected. Could they still hope to prevail? Maybe he should call a halt while they devised a better strategy to deal with the new information.

  He beckoned Edniel over and handed her the message. “What do you think we should do?”

  She studied it, frowning. Finally she shook her head. “Continue as planned. This will make our job harder, but it’s not enough to change the basic shape of the battle.” She squinted at Josiah’s messy postscript. “Can you read this?”

  Elkan knew Josiah well enough to puzzle out his handwriting and interpret his cryptic words. “Apparently the Ramunnans are using heavy attacks by their archers to keep the wizards busy blocking arrows. Josiah suggests we appropriate their shields and use them for cover.”

  Edniel snorted. “Good idea, although I can’t see how you got it from that scrawl. I’ll pass word to the fighters.”

  Elkan went back to Rosir’s portion of the message and read it over. “Why didn’t the Ramunnans fall for our feint? It’s as if they knew it wasn’t a serious attack.”

  Edniel shrugged. “They’re smarter than we gave them credit for. It’s no secret a river has two sides. They looked at the lay of the land, considered what strategies we might use, and responded accordingly.”

  “So you don’t think they’ve managed to put a spy among us?”

  “Not likely. It’s easy to tell a Tevenaran from a Ramunnan, by their accent if nothing else.”

  That was true. The only Ramunnans in Korisan were prisoners. They knew about the weapons, of course—it had been impossible to conceal the noise of the testing. But they couldn’t have brought news to Benarre, because all those who’d escaped had been recaptured. And none of them could have learned about the decoy attack. Tenorran might have overheard them discussing it, but he remained safely locked in the Watch headquarters. Master Ralshan had assured Elkan so right before they left.