“Thatlast bit’s my doing now, is it?”
“That’swhat they think.”
Shegave a huff.“What the hell’s this necromancer waiting for?Soren’s down thereblowing up all her baubles, and she ain’t lifted a finger to stop it.”
“Thisis once again a guess,” Isaac said, “but I would bet she’s wise enough to letthe intruders kill each other.”
Hewatched the pirates for a time.Larkin—the male hyena—had managed to chip awaymost of the ice on the cannon and was now wheeling it toward the pyramid ofskulls, where it would gain a better vantage on anyone entering the courtyard.Two foxes hauled the chain-shot.There were many rounds.
“On theother hand,” Isaac continued, “the sorceress is likely also terrified that yourold captain will summon a horde of wyrms to her domain.If she attacks thepirates now, they will trigger more explosives, and it might destroy what’sleft of her home.”He watched the pirates begin to establish patrols on theramparts.Torches blazed through the dark.“We’ll have to deal with thisourselves.”
Shelooked back at him.“You’re not seriously suggesting—”
“I am,”Isaac replied.“We should attack now, before they have a chance to organize.”
“That’shardly an option, squire.”
“Youheard Soren.Within a day, she’ll start hunting us.We need to go on theoffensive.We can’t let our enemy dictate the terms of engagement.”
“Areyou giving me tactical advice?”
“Ithink I’ve read more books on the subject.”
Shescoffed, looking back at the fortified courtyard.“They’re dug in tight.Theygot ramparts, crossbows, a wide open field, and nearly a dozen times ournumber.It’s suicide.”
“Maybefor you.I’ve got something better than a poleaxe.”He spun through some quickmnemonics, holding a small ball of fire in his hands.“She won’t stand a chanceagainst me.None of them will.”
Zariagave him a raised brow.
“What?”he asked.
“Isaac,”she said, diplomatically.“I’m liking this new boldness on you.It’s ratherhandsome.In this case, though, you need to temper it.Assaulting them head-onis madness.We should skirt around, let the sorceress clear her own bloodyhouse.”
Helooked at her for a moment.“Is that cowardice I’m hearing?”
“Youwanna get smacked upside the head?”
“No.”
“Thenshut your gob.”She went back to watching Soren, who was now supervising thebarricade repairs.“This is my world, right here.I know how to handle it.”
“Tellme,” Isaac said.“Pirates have the right of parley, don’t they?If we ask forit, she has to hear us out.She’ll have to grant us protection.”
Zariatook a breath, her patience visibly waning.“That’s a tale more than a truth.Pirates are practical, as a rule.They’ll never let honor put them at a slight.You try that now, they’ll just use the chance toflank.”
“Butnot Soren.Right?You’ve said it before.She likes to make a spectacle.Shedidn’t kill you on theSaberbecause she wanted to haul you back toCrookspur, or whatever your pirate republic is called.She even challenged youto a duel, back in the chapel, when she could have immediately buried us inrubble.”
Zariaopened a palm, as if conceding the point.
“So itwould work?”Isaac asked.
“Itmight.I’d still have the problem of killin’ her,which ain’t a small thing.She can cut a man to ribbons, just at a blink.”
“Thatwon’t be a problem, either.”
“How’sthat, then?”
“BecauseI’ll stand in your place.”
