Page 3 of Given to the Black King

“On you, they look the same.”

A woman. Serath either believes I am more merciful to women or has found a woman it can afford to lose.

“Where are they?”

“Two days from the pass.”

“Then we ride now.”

Behind us, someone shouts.

Orange light jumps above the roofs. The tithe barns are burning. Not an accident. The wind carries sparks toward the houses, and men are already running with buckets.

Ghenn looks down at the fire. “Captain of the gate?”

“Find him.”

“You want to turn back?”

“Not until the city can hold without us.” I point to the third lane, where a dye house joins two rows of timber roofs. “Marrek takes the east bucket line. Pull that house down for a firebreak. Open two captured grain wagons in the square. Garrison blankets for every family driven out.”

Ghenn is already turning to relay it.

“Count the missing before dawn,” I add. “Dead by name. Grain by sack. Roofs by household.”

“And the man who set it?”

“A cell until law-day.”

Ghenn points a squad toward the south stair. “Take the gate captain alive. Bring every witness to the hold.”

By the time we reach the south gate, the fire has crossed into three streets, but the dye house is coming down. The garrison pulls people from the nearest homes while my wagons open in the square. Marrek raises one arm from the bucket line. He has the city.

The dead are not yet counted.

We leave before midnight.

The black country rises around us on the second evening. Bare moor. Basalt ridges. Villages built tight against the wind. My hold stands above the pass with no banner and no need of one.

The horns over the gate catch the last light. I go to the high wall while the column is still coming in.

South wind moves over the stone. Horse. Sweat. Leather. Road dust.

Then something else reaches me.

Warm skin.

Rain on leaves.

An orchard opening after winter. Pain drives through both fangs.

I grip the parapet.

One claw slides free from my forefinger and scores the stone.

“Torgan?”

Ghenn is beside me. I did not hear him climb the stair. The scent comes again, stronger now.