The Gates Of Winter Part 20

"It's quite the opposite, Your Majesty. I had a camping site in mind for this evening, only I was afraid our late departure would prevent us from reaching it. But we've made good time, and we're nearly there. Just around this bend is a large dell surrounded by trees. There's a spring, and it's protected from the wind. Samatha and Leris-two of my cohorts-are off scouting it now to make sure it's safe."

That was welcome news. Grace's legs and back ached; it would be a relief to stop for the night. "Thank you, Aldeth. Inform Sir Tarus that we'll be making camp."

The dell was long and narrow, walled on either side by tree-covered ridges, and large enough to accommodate the entire force. Commander Paladus-leader of the Tarrasian company-voiced his approval. Like all of the Tarrasians, he was short, olive-skinned, and muscular, with stern brown eyes above sharp cheekbones. Although she stood half a head taller than he, Grace found Paladus intimidating, though he followed any suggestion she made as if it were a command. Then again, Emperor Ephesian did consider her a cousin, so no doubt Paladus had been ordered to obey her without question.

Grace stood around feeling generally useless while Tarus barked orders and the men went to work unloading the wagons and packhorses, setting up tents and a mess area.

"We will place your tent here, Your Majesty," Durge said, planting the standard of Malachor in the soil between a pair of graceful valsindar valsindar trees. trees.

As night fell, Tarus informed her that dinner would be brought to her tent, and while the thought of privacy was tempting-it felt as if she had been on display all day, like a piece of jewelry rotating in a shop window-Grace decided to take dinner with the troops. Silence fell as she approached the mess area with Tira, and Grace had the feeling a number of tongues had been bitten halfway through the telling of bawdy jokes.

"Don't let me spoil the fun," Grace said with a smile. "I just came for a drink."

A goblet of wine was hastily filled and offered to her, but instead Grace picked up a wooden cup filled with gritty, watery ale and quaffed a good part of it down in a long draught. This brought roars of approval from the gathered men, and many hundred cups were raised in Grace's direction, along with hearty calls of "Your Majesty!" and "Health to the Queen!"

Grace raised her own cup in return, then tilted her head toward Tarus. "They won't be drinking like this every night, will they?"

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. The ale will all be gone in another day or two, but let them have their cheer for now. It's a hard road that lies ahead of them."

Grace couldn't disagree with that.

Dinner was an informal affair. Each soldier carried his own cup and knife, and stood in line to get a helping of salted meat and cheese on a trencher of hard bread, which was eaten sitting on the ground. Grace did consent to taking a seat on a flat rock and let Durge fetch her meal, but she ate the same food as the rest of them.

"That was well-done, Your Majesty," Durge said quietly as he took her empty cup. "If there was a man whose loyalty you did not have before tonight, you have it now."

"I hope I deserve it, Durge."

Grace gazed out over the men, who laughed and sang songs by the light of fires. Would any of them still be laughing after they reached Gravenfist Keep?

"Come, my lady. It is time for sleep."

Durge led her back to her tent, which was a little on the grand side, but Grace didn't complain as she lay down on a cot, snuggling close to Tira's warm body.

It was dark in the tent when a hand touched her shoulder, waking her. Grace sat up, staring, but she could see nothing in the gloom. Then the tin screen of a lantern was moved aside, and a shard of light spilled forth. A woman stood over Grace's bed. She wore a gray cloak.

"Who are you?" Grace whispered, so as not to wake Tira.

"My name is Samatha, Your Majesty." The woman's face was long and narrow, her features sharp-edged. She made Grace think of a gray ferret-small, sleek, and dangerous. "Aldeth bid me come and wake you."

So she was one of the Spiders. Grace pushed tangled hair from her eyes and forced her groggy brain to function. "Is something the matter?"

"There are . . . intruders in the camp."

A cold needle injected fear into Grace's heart. Images flashed through her mind: snarling feydrim feydrim and the ghostly forms of wraithlings. "Get Durge and Tarus," she said, groping for her sword. "We have to wake the army and fight them." and the ghostly forms of wraithlings. "Get Durge and Tarus," she said, groping for her sword. "We have to wake the army and fight them."

"No, Your Majesty. These intruders are not servants of the Pale King. They have not come to fight."

Fear gave way to confusion. "Then what do they want?"

"To speak to you, Your Majesty."

Minutes later, her cloak thrown hastily over her nightgown, Grace followed Samatha toward a grove of leafless valsindar valsindar. The pale bark of the trees glowed like bones in the moonlight. Durge and Tarus fell in step beside her.

"What is this all about, my lady?" Durge rumbled, but before she could answer, Aldeth stepped out of a pool of shadow.

"They await you in the grove, Your Majesty."

"Who?" she managed. It was cold, and her teeth chattered.

"I think you'd best go see for yourself."

"You must not go alone," Durge said.

Grace nodded-she would hardly argue that point.

"We'll keep watch out here." Tarus gripped the hilt of his sword. "If you need help, you have only to call out, and we'll be at your side."

Grace gave the knight what she hoped was a brave smile, then moved toward the grove. Durge followed at her side as she stepped between two trees.

She has come, sisters, spoke a voice in Grace's mind. spoke a voice in Grace's mind.

Grace halted. Next to her, Durge let out a low oath. Within the grove was a small clearing, and in it stood a group of women-it was hard to be certain how many. b.a.l.l.s of green light hung among the branches, flickering and casting strange shadows. Dimly, Grace was aware that it was not cold in the grove; instead, the air was as warm as springtime.

The women were a queer lot. There were crones with matted gray hair clad in baggy dresses to which bits of moss and dried leaves clung, and motherly women who wore practical cloaks and homespun gowns. Others were more of an age with Grace, holding staves of wood or wicker baskets. And there were at least two who were barely more than girls, gazing at Grace with eyes that seemed too wise and knowing for their round faces.

Grace knew at once that the women were witches. A coven? Not quite-as her eyes adjusted, she counted only twelve. Did not a full coven require thirteen?

"So it does, mistress," said one of the younger women. "That is why we've come."

Grace blinked. "Excuse me?"

One of the eldest witches hobbled forward, leaning on a crooked stick. "You travel a long road, one that leads into the very heart of shadow."

Durge took a step forward, scowling. "What business is it of yours where we are traveling, woman?"

The crone laughed. She was quite toothless. "It is the business of all of us, Sir Knight. Do not think we do not see, for our vision is clear. Even now you march to the Final Battle, and soon all the Warriors of Vathris will follow you."

Durge crossed his arms. "And do you mean to try to stop us? For know that you have little chance of doing so."

The young witch who had spoken approached. She was dressed in the drab browns of a peasant, and her long face was plain, yet there was an elegance to her bearing. "We do not wish to stop you, Sir Knight."

"But don't you have to?" Grace licked her lips. "Aren't you part of the Pattern?"

Murmurs rose from the witches, and the crone cast a sly glance at the maiden. "We have made our own Pattern, weaving it in secret these last years."

Excitement coursed through Grace, and dread. "You're a shadow coven."

Durge frowned at Grace-he couldn't possibly know what that meant-but both crone and maiden nodded.

The words tumbled out of Grace. "The shadow covens were forbidden. If you're discovered, your threads will be cut off from the Weirding."

The crone's weathered face was sorrowful but resolute. "So they shall. All the same, we have come together. You see, we have not ignored the eldest prophecies as the other witches have. We know Runebreaker will destroy the world, and also that he will save it. We know also that the Warriors of Vathris have a part to play in this before all is done, and that you, sister, are linked to both the Warriors and the Runebreaker himself."

Durge's eyes narrowed. "I do not care for these witches, my lady. If they have betrayed their own sisters, how can we trust anything they say? We should run them out of the camp before they spin a spell upon us."

"Hush, Durge," Grace said, laying a hand on his arm, and he fell silent, though he still glared at the witches. Grace approached the two women, young and old. "Why have you come here?"

"Our coven is not complete," the younger witch said. "We need one more if we are to be thirteen and our secret Pattern complete."

Grace shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I have to go north. I can't go with you."

The crone laughed, a sound like the call of a crow. "Of course not, sister. That is why we shall go with you."

Two days later, the makes.h.i.+ft army reached the bridge over the River Darkwine and the borders of Toloria. "That bridge can't possibly be there."

Grace sat up straight in the saddle. "Actually, it looks fairly solid to me."

Tarus ran a hand through his red hair. "That's not what I meant, Your Majesty. I know this landscape well. I spent much time patrolling here when I was in the Order of Malachor. It's a week's journey from Calavere to Ar-tolor, which lies just a few leagues beyond that bridge. But it's only been three days since we set out from King Boreas's castle."

"Then we've made exceptionally good time, haven't we?" Grace said with a smile.

"But, Your Majesty-"

Grace gave him a sharp look. "Sometimes it's best not to question good fortune, Sir Tarus."

The knight bit his lip, then nodded. "Very well, Your Majesty. I'll instruct the army to cross the bridge. We'll make camp on the other side." He rode away.

"Thank you for speeding up our journey," Grace murmured, enfolding Tira in her arms as they approached the bridge. The girl wriggled in her arms, making a low sound like a moan. What was the matter? Then, as Shandis's hooves clattered against the bridge, Grace understood.

Glancing down, she saw the footprints melted into the stones of the bridge. It was here at this very bridge that the krondrim krondrim, the Burnt Ones, had trapped them on their journey east last year. Only the spell Grace wove with the help of Aryn and Lirith-along with the fatal bravery of Sir Meridar-had saved them. Even then, Tira and the blind boy Daynen had been trapped on the bridge, its stones half-molten from the touch of the fiery beings. Both children would have perished. But then, as Grace and the others watched in helpless horror, Daynen had carried Tira across the glowing stones of the bridge, saving her-and sacrificing himself.

Grace let out a breath when they reached the other side of the bridge, and Tira grew still in her arms.

Silver twilight was falling by the time they reached the other side. Grace was barely able to pick Durge out of the gloom as he veered his charger Blackalock close to Shandis. Both Embarran and warhorse looked like shadows.

"I do not like this," Durge rumbled.

She followed his gaze and saw that the witches who had joined them two days ago were just coming across the bridge-the younger ones walking, the eldest sitting astride s.h.a.ggy ponies.

"We ride now into the lands of the Witch Queen of Toloria," Durge said, his eyes glinting. "Will not they betray us to her? You yourself, Your Majesty, have said the Witches seek to prevent the Final Battle from coming about."

Grace watched the witches approach. "No, Durge. They won't betray us to Ivalaine. Besides, I think you may have misjudged the queen. Some of her own knights ride with us. Besides, no matter what side she stands on, all laws require that I request her permission to ride through her lands."

Durge couldn't argue with that; the Embarran was a staunch supporter of laws. All the same, he glowered at the witches. "I still don't like it. We know nothing about these women. It would be better if we had sent them on their way."

"Nonsense," Grace said crisply. "There are far too many men about. A few women will do this army good."

Over the last two days, Grace had learned that, while she didn't know these witches, they knew her. The coven's Crone was named Senrael, while the Maiden was called Lursa; they were the two women Grace had first spoken to. It turned out both Senrael and Lursa had taken part in the High Coven in Ar-tolor last year. Both had met Aryn and Lirith there, and it was through Lirith and Aryn that they had come to know of Grace.

So that explained how they knew who Grace was. But that didn't explain how the witches had known to find Grace on the road outside Calavere, or where she was going. Only they had had known. Which meant one among them had the Sight. known. Which meant one among them had the Sight.

Senrael had confirmed it last night, when she and Lursa paid a visit to Grace's tent. The two explained how, after the High Coven allied with the witch Liendra and those who sought to destroy Runebreaker, they had formed a shadow coven and had searched for a role they might play in the Final Battle, something they could do to aid Runebreaker in fulfilling his destiny. Then, a fortnight ago, it had come to Lursa as she gazed at a candle.

"I didn't even know I had the Sight," the young Embarran woman said. She was soft-spoken and una.s.suming, but there was intelligence and humor in her brown eyes.

"Sometimes power only reveals itself in times of great need," Senrael said. "And I'd say these times certainly qualify." The toothless old woman was at once feisty and grandmotherly. Grace liked her instantly.

Lursa nodded. "It wasn't at all like a dream-it was clear, as if I was living it. I knew we would join you, and that we would travel with you to Shadowsdeep."

Grace gave the young woman a wan smile. "You didn't happen to see how things would go once we got there, did you?"

Lursa shook her head and smiled back. "Magic never seems to be that convenient, does it?"

"No," Grace said, "it doesn't."

Before the two women left the tent, they had asked if Grace would accept the role of Matron in their coven.

"I'm the oldest and crabbiest," Senrael said, "so I get to be Crone. And Lursa has made for a fine Maiden."

Lursa frowned. "I'm too old for the role, you know. I'm four-and-twenty winters."

"Yet you were the best choice, and you know it," Senrael said. "And fear not for your status as Maiden. I'll make certain none of the men in this army dare lay a hand on you. If one does, he'll discover his private bits have shriveled up like raisins."

Grace doubted untoward advances would be a problem. She had seen the dark glances the men cast at the witches, as well as the signs they made with their hands behind their backs. Durge was not the only one who was suspicious.

"I'll do it, if you need me to," Grace said, then grimaced. "But I don't really know what being Matron involves. I'm afraid I'm not much of a mother figure."

"And aren't you?" Senrael said, casting a glance at the cot where Tira lay curled up, one of her half-burnt dolls tucked under her arm.

Now Grace watched as the last of her army marched across the bridge. Sir Tarus shouted orders, as did Commander Paladus, and camp was quickly set up near the banks of the river. Night fell, clear and cold, and Master Graedin and the other runespeakers moved through the camp, touching stones and speaking the rune of fire. Dawn seemed to come mere moments after Grace lay down on her cot, and it was time to rise and continue the journey.

It was midmorning when the seven towers of Ar-tolor hove into view, green banners snapping. Grace imagined she would have to enter the castle in order to meet with Ivalaine, but as they approached she saw a pavilion had been set up outside the castle walls. The canvas of the pavilion was striped green and gold, and atop the center post flew the royal banner of Toloria. So the queen had come to meet her. But why?

Perhaps to avoid prying eyes and ears, Grace. Isn't Sister Liendra still in Ar-tolor?

A pony trotted toward Grace, a drab bundle on its back which, a moment later, Grace realized was Senrael.

"The queen must not see my sisters and me," the old witch said. She pointed to a distant knot of trees. "We will wait for you in that grove."

Grace gazed at the pavilion and sighed. "You know, I believe that in her heart she supports us."

"That may well be," Senrael said. "All the same, she was Matron of the High Coven, and until she renounces that role she is bound by the Pattern woven there. If she were to see us riding with you, she would know we have betrayed the Witches."

"What about me?" Grace said. "Won't she know I've betrayed the Witches as well?"

Senrael let out a cackle. "You cannot betray them, deary, for you were not part of the Pattern."