For most people outside the Order andmaybethe priesthoods—even for old soldiers like Hallis—this news would be like hearing of a mountain about to fall from the sky.Drinking ourselves into a stupor, slitting our own throats, and setting the place afire, Hallis had said, and she could only hope they hadn’t just caused thousands of people to start doing exactly that, once the birds brought their messages.
There was a tightness around Amris’s mouth that suggested he was having some of the same thoughts. He answered carefully. “If my knowledge yet serves, yes. His death would be harder and more dearly bought than that of any man. He has spells and armies both at his command, and he’s reshaped himself with more care and skill than he spent on any of the creatures he made—but it can happen. I used the spell I did, not because it was the only possibility, but because it was the only certainty. Or so it seemed then.”
Hallis nodded. “What were his numbers, at the end?”
“At a rough count? Five thousand, going in, but we accounted for a fair few of those before the end,” Amris said, and showed his teeth in a smile. “I could say at least half and not think myself vain.”
“We’ve killed a few hundred since then, over the years. Some of them might have killed each other,” Darya added, paraphrasing her lessons. “I don’t think they get replacements as fast as we do.”
“Better not to underestimate, even so,” said Hallis. Darya saw the look on his face, the narrow focus that sliced away all panic and fear and left only the situation and the next steps. “Call it three thousand on their way here. We have a hundred and twelve trained soldiers on hand. Say another hundred or so peasants we can stick up on the walls with spears and hunting bows, assuming they don’t all bolt when they hear the news.”
“Mages? Priests? Healers?”
“One army wizard. A priest of Sitha, a Mourner, and a couple herbalists here. I think the village has a midwife, maybe someone to see to sick goats and whatnot. One of Tinival’s knights was stopping here for a few days—I counted him in the hundred and twelve, though he’s worth three or four normal soldiers in a fight.”
“So are we,” Darya put in, touching the hilt of her sword reflexively, though she knew Gerant wouldn’t answer. “And that’s not vanity either.” It wasn’t, but she was glad to have something to say. Here, with Hallis, Amris was speaking not as the man in the woods, displaced from his time, but as a commander—and she, who’d almost always ridden and fought alone, didn’t know that language nearly as well.
When Amris smiled again and said, “You speak truly, if you’re any measure—and of matters beyond my experience,” she felt ridiculously proud of herself.
It’s the end of the world, Gerant would’ve said,and you’re still showing off for handsome men.
At least, he would have said it if the handsome man on the other end of the sofa had been anyone else.
“Good,” said Hallis, “and glad to hear it. I haven’t seen your people in action very often, Sentinel, but there are three others here at present. I’d counted them among our ranks, though I knew you had…” He hesitated over the term, which clearly wanted to come outuncanny powers, and finished with “abilities we lack.”
Darya didn’t protest. Yes, everyone had abilities the next person lacked, but not everyone had the sort that’d come in handy in a fight, particularly against twistedmen and whatever other monsters Thyran was going to throw at them. This wasn’t a situation for humility.
“The high ground and the fortifications are ours,” Amris added, “and I’m sure you know the use of them well. That will count for a great deal. Thyran ever struck from ambush and at the unguarded when he could.”
“There’s that. And with the warning you’ve brought, we can prepare a few more defenses and get the civilians to safety. Speaking of which…” Hallis frowned. “We’ve no chance of keeping your return quiet, and I’ve already heard of your mounts. I’d thought to put the official word about tomorrow, but it might be best done tonight. I’m not sure.”
“Spare no time, I’d think,” said Amris. “The further in advance people know the truth, the more distance those fleeing can put between themselves and this fortress, and the less rumors will spread.”
Darya shook her head. “Normally, you’d be right. But it’ll be full dark when the news gets out, we’re on the edge of enemy territory and in the middle of nowhere, and the roads out here are piss-poor even by day. The messengers would probably manage well enough, with lanterns and whatnot, but you spread the word now and you’ll get a bunch of old folks and children running off. Half of ’em will break their legs and get eaten by wolves, or worse.”
Briefly, Amris wore an expression that Darya was getting used to: a combination of surprise and sorrow that translated toI hadn’t realized how shitty the world had gotten, though she knew he would have said so more politely, and only if pressed. “They could leave tomorrow, and use the time to pack their belongings,” he said, but he didn’t sound convinced. He’d been a farm boy, and he’d led men. He knew people, even when he didn’t want to admit it.
“Some might,” said Darya. She softened her voice, sorry that she had to make him confront one more bit of horror tonight, but not sorry that she was doing it. As with being humble about her gifts, this wasn’t the time. “Lots wouldn’t. And bad news is always worse in darkness. There are other ways of running.”
“A moment,” said Hallis. He rearranged the scrolls on his desk, regarded the resulting unsteady pyramid, and then said, “I’ll call those within the fortress together and tell them tonight. Even the servants here are in the army—new enlistees and those on punishment—and there’s not much chance for anyone to be alone long. Tomorrow, I’ll send wider messages. Among other things.”
“Only tell me,” said Amris, “how I may best be of service.”
“Right now, you can both go get yourselves fed, watered, and brushed down,” said Hallis, who drank with Isen in his off-hours. “Even if you want to be present for the bad news, it’ll take at least an hour to get us assembled. General—”
“Forgive me the interruption, Commander, but just now I hold no rank. Make it Amris, I beg you.”
“Amris,” Hallis continued, after a second of hesitation. “I’ll put you in with Olvir, our other visitor. He’s the knight I mentioned. Sentinel, you’re where you’ve always been.”
“So to speak,” said Darya.
Chapter 26
“Which hell did they scrapeyouout of?” asked Emeth. She’d turned her head and cracked her eyelids when Darya walked in, but she didn’t make any motion to get off her bed or even sit up. Her dark hair flowed loose over her folded arms, and her bare feet, crossed at the ankles, sent slow trails of smoke up into the air.
“I don’t look that bad.”
“Maybe not for someone who’s been dead a week. Have you? Should I guard my neck?”
