“He has bloated somewhat,” Sagam said, only a hint of wryness in his voice. “Only partially because of the decapitation. He was considerably heavier than he was in the capital.”
“You have done as ordered, quickly and quietly. I could ask for nothing better,” Tallu said.
“There was evidence that General Kacha’s forces were already in Falcon Ridge Province. He was not waiting for the signal from Lord Domusho or Lord Helli.” Commander Rede hesitated, glancing at General Saxu, who dipped his chin in a nod. Commander Rede reached forward, drinking from the glass of water.
“Evidence?” I asked.
“Along the trails, we saw tracks from many carts, many footprints in the mud that forms along the roads in the morning fog,” Sagam said.
“Couldn’t that just be from when Kacha took his forces south to the capital?” I glanced at Iradîo and she raised her shoulder in a shrug. Even birds would have a hard time covering the entire area we were talking about.
“The farmers were scared. There were some farms missing half their crops, including ones out of season.” Commander Rede straightened, as though the water had refreshed him as much as a full night’s sleep. “They were too scared to tell us in actual words, but their implication was clear.”
“If we continue the route we are currently on, we will run into Kacha’s forces,” Saxu said. “If he has split his forces, we might have the men to take him, but as he has the advantage of time and terrain, it will be at a great loss.”
The table we sat at was intended for dining, and only a few hours earlier it had held a feast that I had been shocked to see come from a camp kitchen. Saxu’s words, his tone, were gracious, delicate, but there was something of a challenge at the end.
After so many weeks on the road, Saxu was becoming more himself, less of the broken man who had lost the capital.
“You can tell all that from a few tracks?” Tallu asked.
“I trust my men. If they say that Kacha has brought forces north, I will not underestimate him again. It’s unlikely that Kachahas taken most of his forces away from the capital. He wouldn’t risk it, but that does not mean we outnumber him.” Saxu stood, walking to a side table and taking a scroll off it. He placed the map in the center of our table, unrolling it carefully and weighing down the corners with delicately carved dragons intended for the purpose. The ink lines noting the borders of the continent and the names of the countries and provinces had been annotated with all of the information we had on Kacha and Bemishu.
I stood up to better see the map. We knew Bemishu controlled the stretch of country between the Ariphadeus desert and the capital. But from everything that the Kennelmaster and Sagam had said, Kacha did not have a firm control on the provinces between the Blood Mountains and the capital. There were too many of them, and too many lords enjoying freedom of rule with a missing emperor and generals mid-coup.
Kacha had made too many enemies in his time as an imperial general to find success easily when his opponents had entrenched themselves in their own strongholds.
We were halfway through Pine Thorn Province, the Jolushi estate at the center of the territory, and Falcon Ridge sat beyond it, the hilly region that was closest to the Blood Mountains.
“We will head to the Jolushi estate and then find a way to avoid Falcon Ridge Province,” Tallu said. “I have no desire to risk myself over something as foolish as a traveling route. Do we go south, or north?”
“If we go south, Kacha may have more allies there. He did well with lords around the capital. They appreciated how his excesses benefited them.” The Kennelmaster coughed, clearing his throat. “But north, we go close to the Blood Mountains, where he made his escape.”
Sagam said, “There is a river that runs along the southern edge of Falcon Ridge Province. However, if Kacha becomes aware that we have already killed his ally, Lord Helli, he might make a move on us inside Pine Thorn Province. Does House Jolushihave the ability to defend themselves against an attack?” Sagam’s voice became more certain as he spoke, and his lips twisted into amusement. “They’re known for lumber and tea, but surely that means they’re used to defending against wolves and thirsty tea patrons.”
“DoesHouse Jolushi have the ability to defend themselves?” Tallu asked the table.
“We can find out,” Sagam said, glancing at the Kennelmaster. “The Bemishu twins have made good inroads with Lady Jolushi, who sees them as potential allies.”
“So, we go into Pine Thorn Province and don’t tell the lady that we’re dragging a war to her doorstep?” I asked. “Some house guests we are. Even in the north, it’s considered rude to bring an ice bear to someone’s house when you have been invited to dinner. Something about all the killing tends to put people off their dinner.”
“What if instead we let it tip things in her favor?” Tallu said, considering the dead man’s head. “Perhaps my consort should have a conversation with Lady Jolushi.”
I frowned between him and the head before my eyebrows went up. “Of course, husband, I’m more than happy to make more friends at court.”
After everyone had left,Tallu and I went back and forth on whether to include Empress Koque in my conversation with Lady Jolushi, settling on not. Although both women had strategically gotten rid of their husbands, it might confuse matters even further if Koque was seen as usurping my power as consort.
My argument was it might further impress on the court that I was a hapless northerner who needed to be led and managed. With all of the chaos, they likely had forgotten about my capability as afighter, and I preferred they see me as nothing and forget that I was someone to fear.
“You give them too little credit if you think any of them have forgotten how dangerous you are,” Tallu had said.
“Domusho seemed to.” My fingers trailed over Tallu’s naked chest, my nails gently following the spine of the dragon as it twisted down his arm.
“Do not take his desperation and foolishness as a sign of what the court does.” Tallu propped his head on his hand, watching me. “Be careful.”
The next day, Lady Jolushi eagerly accepted my invitation to share a snack when the caravan paused in the afternoon to give the horses and electro mages a chance to rest. Nohe set up the appropriate table and acquired food and tea.
When I met with Lady Jolushi, I was highly aware of her eyes as they watched me, her bow perfectly low enough to honor my higher station, her fingers a triangle that even Homisu would appreciate.
