DragonCrown Saga - The Grand Crusade Part 43

Linchmere smiled. "There was a time when you would have suggested I was irresponsible, and I would have had a tantrum or sulked. Now I just wonder why you didn't tell me that more often?"

"Because until you were of a mind to accept responsibility, it wouldn't have mattered what I said."

Erlestoke turned and looked at him. "How much are you ready to accept?"

"What do you mean?"

Erlestoke pointed to Caledo. "You remember what General Pandiculia told us when we linked up with her forces?"

"Yes, that Princess Alexia is waiting for us in Caledo."

"Precisely." Erlestoke recalled Pandiculia looking haggard and harried. She seemed anxious to reach Caledo, and was a bit surprised when he introduced his brother to her.She had expected the fop, not a veteran. "So, the question becomes this: do I introduce you to Princess Alexia as Prince Linchmere of Oriosa and give you a command, or do you remain Lindenmere of the Freemen?"

His brother's pinched expression hid nothing of his discomfort. "Part of me wants to return to who I was, but you would have to give me a command, wouldn't you? I left Meredo because our father laughed at my request to lead our troops to this very place and attack the Aurolani host. I know now that I was utterly unsuited to being a leader. While having one more prince might hearten some, I think Lindenmere Halfarm in the Freemen ranks will do more good in the long run." Linchmere raised his stump. "You should give Wheatly more of a command. He was a militia officer before leading the Freemen, and he is very smart. He is worthy of elevation."

Erlestoke smiled. "I expected you to say the first. The second, however, marks how much you have grown. I already know you have committed selfless acts, as your wounding proclaims, but now you honor another when you had no reason to."

"Oh, but I have ample reason. Wheatly does deserve elevation. His skills will save lives and win battles.

He inspires troops. If you do not use him, you cheat yourself and needlessly jeopardize people."

"Noted. And thank you."

Linchmere nodded. "So, how will you introduce me?"

"I don't know yet." Erlestoke smiled. "I respect your wishes, but if I need a prince more than I need a sword on the line, I will put you to the best use possible. A half-armed fighter will inspire a few, but a half-armed prince will inspire many. They are here because they have to be, but you don't. Your presence will confer greater honor on them."

"I see that, but you know that Idoneed to be here."

"I do. We both do."

"Erlestoke, is the rumor I've heard true? That you decorated our father's throne with heads?"

The prince nodded slowly. "It had to be done."

"Do you hate him?"

Hate him? He's unworthy of so strong an emotion. "I try not to think that much about him."

"I do." Linchmere focused distantly. "Hate him. Not because of what he did to me or Mother or you, but for what he did to Oriosa. Mark me, when this war is over... if you fall, I will see Oriosa free."

"And if I don't?"

"Ameckanshuprince will serve in Fortress Draconis, wed as his king wishes, and wish you a fecund consort who will place many heirs between him and the throne."

Erlestoke reined back and, as his brother drew abreast, slapped him on the shoulder. "It's been a long time since I recognized my brother in you. Welcome back, Linchmere. Come with me. It's time we show Chytrine that one generation's weakness has not been conferred on the next."

Kerrigan Reese waited on the dock as Banausic helped Oracle into the small barge that would take them to the fleet's new flags.h.i.+p. Once the city had been subdued, it had taken half a week to inventory the supplies available in Alcytlin. The inventory determined that Adrogans' army would be able to travel to Sebcia on the s.h.i.+ps easily. The journey was projected to take no more than four days.

Working out the logistics had not been that difficult, though there were several concerns that had to be addressed. The first was the crewing of the s.h.i.+ps. Few enough of Adrogans' people had any experience, and a number shared the general's loathing of the sea. The Grey Misters did have some expertise, and Queen Winalia sent some crews to help out. As for rowers, they had ample supplies in captured gibberers, who were quickly converted into galley slaves.

Of the six s.h.i.+ps in the harbor, only one had been outfitted with dragonels. That doubled the number Adrogans' people could use. The only difficulty with the ones on the s.h.i.+p was that their truck was suited to s.h.i.+pboard use, but would make them impossible to take on the road. That s.h.i.+p, which Adrogans had named theSvarskya, served as the flags.h.i.+p and would defend the convoy against any Aurolani s.h.i.+pping.

Once it had been determined that they were going to head out to sea, the main focus of the operation settled on getting the s.h.i.+ps provisioned. The Alcidese Wolves set to work in the firedirt factory packaging up as much firedirt as it was possible to create. The Savarese Knights did uncover six hundred dra-conettes, so they and the Jeranese Queen's Guard light cavalry practiced with the weapons and became an interesting mounted draconetteer force.

The Jeranese Queen's Guard was exempted from traveling to Sebcia. To them went the job of heading east in the Ghost March to scout out and hara.s.s any Aurolani troops coming to relieve Alcytlin. As Adrogans explained it, being confronted by draconetteers was bound to slow down any Aurolani force. That would buy him more time to get his people situated in Sebcia without the main Aurolani army being aware they were there.

Aside from theSvarskya, the fleet consisted of theHighlander, theZhusk, theNoriva, theAlcytlin, and the Jerana. The s.h.i.+ps' names had been hastily painted on their afts and bows. The figureheads had once been shaped in the likeness of Chytrine, but talented carvers had remade them into other images, including Queen Carus of Jerana and Princess Alexia. While fitting troops and supplies onto each s.h.i.+p did result in crowding, the soldiers seemed resigned to accept it since the voyage would be short.

Kerrigan had watched with interest as the soldiers had boarded the s.h.i.+ps to which they had been a.s.signed. As each mounted the gangway, he or she pitched an offering to Tagothcha into the waters of Alcytlin Bay. Some tried to bribe him with food and others gold coins. Soldiers tended to be superst.i.tious individuals, and many took the opportunity to rid themselves of dice and other ill-omened items.

Once Oracle had taken her place in the barge, Phfas stepped forward and removed anyruntalisman related to water. He kissed it, then tossed it into the water, where it sank with a small splash and a flash of gold.

Adrogans, standing beside Kerrigan, shook his head. "A waste, Uncle."

Phfas shrugged. "She is at home."

Kerrigan frowned. "Why is it a waste?"

The Jeranese general focused on the distant s.h.i.+p for a moment, then gave Kerrigan a sidelong glance.

"When I was a child, I was sent on a fis.h.i.+ng vessel. It was thought I might find a trade there, or at least learn enough about the sea that I could join my family's maritime trading business later. I was very young, but I listened to the fishermen. Half the tales they told were lies, the rest were pure fancy, but they made offerings to Tagothcha whenever they sailed. I did as they did, even giving up a gold coin my father had pressed into my hand when he sent me off to the sea."

Adrogans' brows slanted inward. "That first voyage a horrible storm came and the boat I was on sank without much of a trace. As we began to go down, a fisherman tossed me into the water, told me to swim for a bobbing cask. I did what he said and held on as the boat went down. I clung there as waves crashed over me. I coughed and sputtered and called out for friends. No one answered me.

"I was alone throughout that night. I called on Tagothcha. I begged him to save me. I got nothing. I pleaded and got nothing. I cursed him with every curse I had heard or could imagine. I got nothing. But I survived.

"When the storm ended and the sea calmed, I pulled together more debris and stayed alive until another boat found me. They deposited me onsh.o.r.e, claiming I was bad luck and that Tagothcha hated me for some reason or other.

They even suggested I'd not made an offering to him, but I had, so I decided he was capricious and not worth the time to appease."

Kerrigan frowned. "Seems to me I failed to make any offering when we sailed from Vilwan, and that ended in disaster. On the trip from Loquellyn, though, I gave him an urZrethi wand and we made the trip just fine. And the trip here to the Ghost March went without incident."

Adrogans clapped him on the shoulder. "I'm glad he took notice of your gift. I hope that will be enough for all of us, for I'll offer him nothing. He owes me a safe journey, and this will be when I collect."

Once Adrogans and Kerrigan entered the barge, Norivese crewmen rowed out to theSvarskya.

Kerrigan let Adrogans mount the ladder first, then used his magick to lift Oracle to the wheeldeck. He chose to climb the ladder himself, and joined her and Banausic on the wheeldeck as soldiers turned the capstan and raised the anchor. As a crew master pounded out a rhythm on drums, the gibberers began to row in unison, and the half-dozen s.h.i.+ps cruised from the bay.

Kerrigan made his way toward the bow. TheSvarskya, being far more immense than the small s.h.i.+p they'd taken to the Ghost March, created far more of a bow wave, but little of the blue water splashed up to reach either him or Adrogans. The wind of the pa.s.sage tugged at Adrogans' cloak and Kerrigan's tunic.

"Do you think the Aurolani will be fooled?"

Adrogans shrugged. "It would be nice, but I am not counting on it. All that is important is that we deliver our troops to Sebcia and get a chance to kill Aurolani. But surprise would allow us to kill more, and make it likely we'll lose fewer. That would please me."

Kerrigan nodded and had opened his mouth to make a reply when suddenly the sea around the convoy began to boil. Before the mage could even ask what was going on, a hole opened in the Crescent Sea and swallowed Adrogans' fleet whole.

The journey south had not been so much harrowing as it had been hard. Isaura, with Hlucri's help, had gathered together ample supplies and had outfitted a sled to be drawn by two drearbeasts. With the ma.s.sive ursinoid creatures pulling tirelessly, the trio made swift time. They pa.s.sed over endless ice fields, always bearing south, toward the mountains and the direction indicated whenever Isaura used magick to locate the Norrington.

She had met Will in Meredo and had healed him, so she knew his essence. The spell she cast did bring back positive confirmation that he was heading toward her, but there was something odd about how he felt. Isaura rationalized it away by noting to herself that Will had not really been himself when she met him, full of venom as he was-but she knew that was not the whole of the situation either.

She gave no voice to her doubts about Will to Sayce. The Murosan had welcomed the escape and become very composed. She did as much as she could around their various campsites, but her nervousness betrayed her in how she played with the amulet around her neck.

Barely half a week south, the weather turned warmer and the drearbeasts became irritable. Hlucri slew and slaughtered them, providing fresh meat-most of which he consumed. For a day more he drew the sled himself, but another twenty miles south the glaciers gave way to plains crisscrossed with streams running from the mountains.

From that point forward they had walked and made rather poor time. Neither Isaura nor Sayce was practiced in walking long distances. The broodingsulhnciriwould range ahead of them, topping a rise of hills, or trotting out to find game, easily covering triple the distance they did.

The rivulets did provide fresh water, which kept them going, though the ris- ing heat a.s.saulted them. Sayce went so far as to tear the lower half of her skirts away, baring her legs to the sun. Isaura did the same, and both women's flesh quickly burned, though magick and a mud-and-gra.s.s poultice of Hlucri's devising did help.

Finally, fourteen days after setting out, Hlucri galloped back after a scouting mission and quickly guided them to an outcropping of rock on the northern side of a hill. The stones had burst up through the earth at an angle, with many dolmen standing, but a few had cracked and fallen. The two women huddled there in the shadow of a stone and Hlucri lurked behind another as two elves topped the rise, and an urZrethi followed them.

Isaura had never seen any of them before and they looked as much a sight as did she and Sayce, ragged and mud-spattered as they were. The male elf had silver eyes and a stripe of white hair cresting his head.

She knew him for a Vorquelf, for she had seen them before on Vorquellyn, when she was bound to the island. The other elf, a female, was smaller in stature and build, tending toward willowy. She had lost her right eye, which surprised Isaura.

The only surprising thing about the urZrethi was that he was male. His malachite flesh complemented the spring green of the gra.s.ses so well she could almost have imagined him to be aweirunof the plains. His dark eyes flitted side to side and clearly he was not mad, as all males outside of urZrethi homelands were supposed to be.

Sayce immediately jumped up and started to run at the trio. "Resolute! Bok!"

The male elf's head snapped around and a hand dropped to the hilt of his sword. He moved to eclipse the female, and she dropped back a step before drawing her sword. Resolute's wary expression softened just a bit. "Princess Sayce?"

"Yes, it's me. We escaped. We've come south to find you and Will. Where is he?"

Resolute held a hand up. "We, Princess?"

Sayce, now halfway between the elves and Isaura, stopped. "Yes, I am not alone. Isaura is with me.

She is Will's Lady Snowflake. And Hlucri. He's asullan-ciri, but he used to be Lombo. He's helped us."

Hlucri moved from his hiding place and crept midway along a fallen stone before sitting. The sunlight sparked in the jade armor of his flesh. His claws remained extended, but his hands rested with their backs pressed to the stone, palms up and open.

Before Isaura could stand, she heard a buzzing. A Spritha appeared before her and settled on the stone.

"Qwc knows you." He sprang up again, circled her once, then flew to Resolute's shoulder and whispered in his ear.

The silver-eyed Vorquelf looked toward her. "You may come out. No harm will befall you, Lady Snowflake. We are in your debt."

Isaura stood, straightened her dress, and moved from the shadows. "I am Isaura, daughter of Empress Chytrine."

Resolute canted his head for a moment, then shook it slightly. "Not by blood."

"No, not by birth. I've brought you Sayce. I have to tell you that you cannot bring the Norrington north.

That is what my mother wants. Every league nearer brings her grand plan that much closer to fruition."

The female elf laughed. "If your mother wants the Norrington, she is a fool."

Isaura slowly shook her head. "My mother may not be capable of rational thought, but she is not a fool."

"I will grant your mother is clever." Resolute raised a hand to shade his eyes and looked north. "There are two reasons she would have sent you south with Sayce."

"Weescapedl"

Resolute gave her such a harsh stare that she blushed.He is right! We were let go. The implications of how her mother had used her shook her. Isaura's stomach tightened and sour bile rose in her throat.

"The first reason is that you might be successful in convincing us to get Sayce south to safety, thus removing a threat to your mother. The other is that you were tracked."

Isaura looked to the north and high in the sky saw a dozen specks, which grew larger as they descended. All but one had the squat bodies of carrion birds, but with flat dugs on their bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Their black wings had an oily sheen that matched the greasy appearance of the lank locks on their hag's heads. Thearaftucalled harshly and circled, then landed. A half-dozen formed a semicircle to the south.

Two landed on a dolmen, while the remaining trio arrayed themselves to block the way north.

The last creature was as elegant as thearaftuwere ugly. Yellow in color, with black tracing each feather and painting each talon, the huge bird made one low swoop before turning on a wing tip and landing as light as a drifting leaf. She stretched her wings, raising the tips to the sky, then they shrank down into arms. The transformation went slowly, and was mesmerizing in its majesty, as the urZrethisullanciri Ferxigo reshaped her body. The expression on her face went from pure ecstasy to one of mild frustration.

As Qwc sprang into the air, Resolute shrugged off his pack and drew his sword. "Sayce, come here."

Letting her right forearm s.h.i.+ft into a long slender blade the equal of his, Ferxigo shook her head. "No, Resolute, she will be going with us. As will the Norrington. Produce him and you will be allowed to live."

The Vorquelf arched an eyebrow. "Your mistress is not known for keeping her deals."

Thesullanciri's clawed feet tore at the turf. "She is not this generous, but I am. The Norrington for your life."

Resolute shook his head. "Not in your lifetime."

Without warning, Ferxigo launched herself into an attack. Her initial leap closed the gap between them and ended in a lunge that slashed through his leather jerkin. He hissed and her hand drew back bloodied. The Vorquelf batted her blade aside, then spun, giving her a brief glimpse of his back before he came around and slashed at her eyes.

The cut should have carved her skull down to the bridge of her nose or at least blinded her, but it missed. Ferxigo s.h.i.+fted her shape, flattening the dome of her skull and broadening her face. Her eyes moved to either end of a bar as the blade pa.s.sed above them, then her head returned to something approximating a normal shape. Her left fist came around, smas.h.i.+ng Resolute in the ribs and driving him back several steps.

On she came, fast and hard, thrusting at him. Resolute leaped and dodged. Her blade scored turf, slashed jerkin and boots, but never quite managed to spit him. When he would parry, little puffs of sulfurous smoke would rise, but Ferxigo gave no sign of any discomfort. She forced him back, further and further, until she trapped him against a dolmen.

Thesullancirilunged. The Vorquelf dodged right as her blade cracked stone and, for a heartbeat, became lodged. Resolute slashed at her left arm, but it went from being solid to boneless. It s.h.i.+fted into a tentacle and his blade just missed scoring its thick coils.

She whipped her left arm at him and caught him across the thighs with a mighty blow. Resolute smashed into the stone. His right elbow hit hard and his sword was jarred from his fist. Ferxigo pounced, her clawed feet digging into the rock. She pinned him to it with her own body, her back suddenly armoring.

A loop of her left arm closed around his neck and tightened while her right hand rose and s.h.i.+fted into twin tines set as wide apart as his eyes.

Sayce dashed at Ferxigo and leaped onto her tortoisesh.e.l.l back. Isaura wondered what she thought she could do bare-handed against asullanciri. She thought Sayce was smarter than that.Even dead she could serve my mother's purpose. Her heart rose to her mouth, afraid for her friend yet proud of her courage.

But the Murosan Princess was not unarmed. Silver flashed in her hand. She had torn the amulet from her neck and driven it into the creature's armpit. Black blood spurted and thesullanciriconvulsed, flinging Sayce off.

Sayce flew a dozen feet and landed hard on her upper back. She bounced once and rolled to the female elf's feet. Thesullancirisprang from the rock and tried to whip Resolute away. Had the Vorquelf not had a grip on her tentacle, the motion would have snapped his neck. As it was, he hung on, throwing her off-balance. To save herself, she released him, though she left him far away from his weapon.

Again s.h.i.+fting her hand, Ferxigo dug in her armpit and pulled the amulet Sayce had worn from her flesh.

"Powerful, yes, but far too short to do the job." She looked around at her allies. "Save for the human girl, slay them all."

Thearaftusprang into the air or danced forward, wings spread. The two on the dolmen behind her squawked horribly, sending a s.h.i.+ver up her spine, but Isaura did not turn to look at them. Death closed from every side and Isaura sought a spell that could stop her mother's creatures from attacking.