Set in Stone (33 page)

Better to change the subject. "The Petralist, Anika, who you fought tonight, she was asking about you, Captain."

"What did she say?"

"She wants to wrestle again."

Rory grinned. Not an eager-for-battle grin or an I-want-to-break-her-in-pieces grin. It was a happy grin, and it looked completely wrong on his craggy face.

Rory rubbed his hands together absently, "She was something, wasn't she?"

Shona rolled her eye. "Please, Captain, stay focused."

The grin disappeared and he frowned at no one in particular, "I am focused. We can't take Ilse until we defeat her Petralists. I'm just . . . planning how to do that."

"You're planning something," Shona said with a toss of her long hair. Then she added, "Wait till I get my hands on that big blond Petralist. I'll make him pay for stomping on my face." She fingered the bruise on her cheek.

"His name is Erich. He's Anika's brother."

"So if I subdue Anika, he might surrender," Rory said.

"Or rip your head off to free her," Shona said.

Connor nodded. "I second the rip your head off response."

"Better to kill the Grandurian wench when you get the chance."

Rory didn't look convinced. Connor hoped he knew what he was doing. Anika was quite a woman, but she'd break Rory in pieces if he underestimated her.

"Tell me Captain Ilse's message."

When Connor repeated Ilse's demand, Rory pursed his lips in thought and stared up at the star-lit sky. "She is a wily one, that Ilse. I am looking forward to questioning her."

"That's all you have to say?" Shona demanded.

"For now."

"What else does she want?" Shona asked.

"She said Captain Rory knows what needs to be returned before they'll leave. What did she mean, Captain?"

"It means she won't leave until we drive her out."

That was a completely useless answer.

Shona said, "She's bluffing. We should attack again immediately. She won't be ready for it."

Rory waved a hand at the campsite. "Our powder stores are gone. Half the men are injured, and we're facing unknown Builder powers. Attacking tonight is suicide."

"We could take them by surprise," Shona insisted.

"Who surprised who tonight?" When she pouted at the fire, he added, "No, Ilse's no fool. She won't be taken easily. We'll rest and recover tonight. Connor, tomorrow you'll lead Donald and Grahame and their scouts to the best vantage points to observe them."

"That's it?" Shona demanded.

"For now. Tomorrow is soon enough to decide the best way to route them from Alasdair."

"That's not good enough, Captain."

"I will not throw away the lives of my men. When I know how best to proceed, we will take the town. Not until then."

Shona tried to argue further, but Rory would not be moved. Connor was grateful Rory had the sense to wait. He didn't want to admit it, but even he could see Ilse held the upper hand at the moment.

As he sat near the fire, soaking up the warmth, he thought back over the battle and considered ways they could avoid similar disasters in the future. Then it dawned on him, he was already convinced they would launch a second attack, despite the risk to the prisoners.

And Ilse would be ready for them.

Chapter 35

Connor awoke to bustling activity just after dawn. Soldiers were hastily donning armor and assembling in squads in the center of camp. It took him a few seconds to realize virtually all of the sick beds lay empty but for piles of discarded bandages. Soldiers who had screamed as their shattered bones were set the previous night stood at attention, looking ready for battle.

Connor reached for his bow but realized the air was charged with excitement and a little nervousness, not the tension of impending battle. He found Rory standing with Shona near the central fire. Shona's face looked beautiful in the soft light, fully restored.

They stood talking with a slender man in chainmail armor. On his head perched a tight-fitting blue cap, and over his shoulder draped a cape of mottled forest-green.

"How many men?" Rory was asking.

"Five full companies, including an entire squad of Boulders, and a mixed company of support troops."

Rory blinked. "More than I expected."

"
He
cares for my wellbeing," Shona said with a satisfied little smile.

"No doubt your safety is General Carbrey's chief concern," Rory said with a straight face.

The soldiers nearby came to attention. Into the clearing marched a dozen huge warriors who towered over even Tomas and the Fast Rollers. They wore heavy plates of steel armor and carried gigantic shields. On their backs hung massive hammers with long, steel handles that looked like they must weigh thirty pounds.

At their head strode a hugely muscled warrior with a surprisingly youthful face. When he caught sight of Rory, he grinned like a little boy. "Rory, well met!"

The two clasped hands. The newcomer stood half a head taller and half again as broad in the shoulders. "Captain Peader, well met."

The giant warriors parted and a thick-chested man with short-cropped salt-and-pepper hair strode into the clearing. He took in the scene with one sweep of hard brown eyes. The two men who flanked him bristled with weapons. Twin swords hung on their backs, and they wore many daggers strapped to their torsos and limbs. They moved with the fluid grace of deadly nuall hunting cats.

As one, Rory and his men saluted. The thick-chested newcomer returned a smart salute, passed Rory without stopping for a greeting, and strode to Shona. He made a tiny bow, "Lady Shona, I am happy to see you safe."

"Thank you, General," Shona said graciously.

Only then did the general turn to Rory. "I hear you've botched things completely, Captain."

He spoke with formal, clipped tones in a voice that commanded compliance. Connor wished he'd hung back farther. The general exuded an aura of authority, and Connor felt like an ignorant country fool standing close to the great man.

Rory, his face expressionless, gave a brief but complete summary of the events of his excursion. When he mentioned Shona's return on the barge, assisted by a local lad, a Guardian-Agor, murmurs rippled through the otherwise silent force of newcomers.

Rory nodded toward Connor, and the general focused the full weight of his intense stare on him. Connor could not meet his gaze, but stared at his feet.

"He is confirmed Agor?"

"Aye, sir."

Connor glanced up and found the general regarding him with genuine curiosity. "Interesting." General Carbrey gave Connor a little nod of acknowledgement. "A pleasure to meet you, lad. I look forward to talking with you in detail later."

"Thank you, sir."

Rory continued his report, relating the assault on the town, the surprise tactics employed by the Grandurians, and their eventual retreat. As he detailed Verena's amazing powers and how they played a pivotal role in the entire battle strategy, the general's initial scowl of displeasure faded.

As Rory talked, more soldiers poured into the clearing, while still more packed the trail as far down River Road as Connor could see. They came by the hundreds, the majority of them dressed in chainmail like Rory's army. Scores of mounted knights flanked them, wearing steel plate armor and long lances, riding huge destriers with coats of chainmail shielding their flanks.

Still more men, dressed in the simple worker garb of Linn, moved into the clearing and started setting up tents, building fires, and establishing a far more elaborate campsite. Connor stood in the midst of it all, filled with a growing sense of wonder. He'd been impressed by Rory's small army, but they had been but the vanguard.

Did Ilse comprehend what she'd unleashed when she stole Shona away from Merkland? She should have run when she had the chance.

Rory finished his report by saying, "Given the situation, I recommend capture of Captain Ilse as well as the Builder Verena."

"I concur," General Carbrey said.

"Don't forget Kilian," Shona added.

General Carbrey's face lit up. "Kilian is here?"

"He is."

"Captain, on initial reports, I suspected you of gross negligence. However, now that I understand the full situation, I am revising that initial assessment."

"Thank you, sir."

"We must take Kilian as well as the two women. His capture would be worth even more than retaining the boy." The general added loudly, "Captains, to me."

In less than a minute, seven men stood with him, along with Shona while the rest of the army was ordered back to give them room to converse privately. Rory stood beside Captain Peader, who towered over the others. The two soldiers with all the weapons looked tiny beside him, but did not seem fazed by it.

Another captain clearly led the cavalry, clad in steel plate and wearing a high-pointed helm with a blue and green cloth pennant affixed to the top. Another would be a Pathfinder, for he dressed in simple hunting leathers like Grahame, and wore a similar wide-brimmed hat that failed to conceal his glittering eyes.

Connor could not imagine what group the last Captain might represent. He wore no armor, but was dressed in a tunic of bright blue and linen trousers of deep green. He wore his flame-red hair shoulder length, and he looked sunburned, with a florid complexion.

The other soldiers stood at attention while the Linn scurried about working on the camp. Connor slid closer to Tomas and stood with the Fast Rollers. After several minutes of quiet conversation, the small group broke apart and General Carbrey faced the packed clearing.

"Men of Obrion, soldiers of Merkland, today we stand upon the path of duty. Today we rise up to reject the tyranny our enemies to the north would impose upon us."

Soldiers shifted and stood taller. Connor tried to mimic them, filled with resolve as the general's words rang through the camp.

"As you know, the peaceful town of Alasdair has been invaded by Grandurians, the same force that abducted our own Lady Shona only days ago." Shona moved to his side and stood tall, head high, looking every inch the High Lady.

General Carbrey raised his right fist high. "We will not allow this aggression to stand. We will shatter their forces and reclaim this land for liberty!"

As one, every soldier raised their fists in salute and shouted, "Liberty!"

General Carbrey's voice rose higher still. "You are the shield protecting our nation. You are the sword against oppressors. You are the men of Merkland!"

Again all voices raised in unison. "Merkland!"

Connor shouted loudly with them, filled with the fires of patriotism like he'd never felt before at the thought that he, a simple Linn, was privileged to stand with these men, to prove himself alongside them.

General Carbrey lowered his fist and, as silence settled over the army, said calmly, "Today we will see victory.

"Today we route the enemy and capture three prisoners. Your Captains will brief each squad on your specific missions. Fulfill your duty and preserve the freedom of Obrion."

Connor's raging enthusiasm faded a little. He didn't hate Ilse, even though he probably should. He wished she'd just leave so no one had to get hurt. He really wished Verena could escape the coming battle unharmed, but that was unlikely. She would stand with Ilse and share a common fate.

When he thought of Kilian, he again saw the Water Moccasin skating across the surface of the river in the pre-dawn dimness, with sword drawn. He shivered at the memory. Maybe they'd all be safer with Kilian captured. Then again, without Kilian, he'd never have gotten the chance to kiss Shona underwater.

The general raised a second finger. "Our second mission today is to secure the quarry. It is a strategic asset that must be protected. Third, we secure the safety of the prisoners taken by the Grandurians. We will see to the release of the Cutters and Lord Gavin and his family."

Did the general mean to place the Cutters first, or did he only mean to lump all of the hostages into one group? And did he really consider the quarry more important than those hostages?