Sorcerer's Moon (77 page)

He and Kalawnn argued the pros and cons amiably for a
short time before it occurred to them to scry a bit further up the lake and see what the small human army encamped there might be doing.

'Ahroo!' Ugusawn gave a howl of incredulous delight. ‘I don't believe it. They're on the march - toward the foot of the lake where the Shadow River outflow begins!'

'Indeed.’
Kalawnn concurred. 'How unexpected. Some are afoot and some on horseback, with a pitiful quantity of little wheeled tarnblaze cannons to augment their spears. Rikalawnn's force outnumbers them by better than two to one. Still, the humans might be able to slow him down long enough to cause a bit of bother. Unless -'

'Man-meat.' The Supreme Warrior licked his slimy lips. 'We give Rik's bunch some help, he'll have to share. And then, on to the great affray! What do you think?'

‘I won't be able to climb that ridge,' the Master Shaman admitted.

Ugusawnn clasped Subtle Gateway. 'I'll whisk us to the top of it. There's a single copse of small evergreen trees up there. We can squat amongst them and watch while the column crosses over. Thirty thousand of us . . . the vanguard will just about get to the lakeshore as the rear starts out of the marsh. You tell Rik we're on our way, and I'll bespeak our officers with the change of route.'

* * *

Assume your assigned positions,
Vaelrath said.
Be as quiet as possible, although it matters little whether they hear you now. We will keep you hidden from them. They will be unable to understand what is happening until it is too late.

The cloudcover had broken and the rain was over. Auroral pandemonium flashed and swirled in the clear portions of the Sky and illuminated the land below, where a broad stream of huge dark forms approached the highland summit above Lake of Shadows.

The Pretender's Army had waited impatiently up there for most of the day, concealed by the talent of the Morass Worms. Only Casya herself displayed no surprise when thousands more of the great dragons joined those who had led the mounted humans to this strange battleground.

Two Salka - persons of importance from the comparatively large size of them and the gold and ivory accoutrements that adorned their bodies - had also stationed themselves atop the ridge, about two hundred ells from the place where the humans had picketed their mounts and waited in ambush. Deveron had scried them continuously, wondering whether they were Salka leaders. He had briefly considered using Concealer to approach them unseen, but in the end he decided that it was too risky.

'What was that?' Kalawnn said, his head swiveling appre hensively. ‘I thought I heard something.'

'Of course you did,' the Warrior grunted. He rolled his glowing red eyes in exasperation. 'It's the sound of thousands of our warriors advancing. Look: the first of them have reached the top of the ridge. Shall we go to meet them? It's a glorious night.'

They emerged together from the partial shield of the ever greens and watched proudly as the head of the column came into clear view. The troops came on twenty abreast in close ranks, wriggling easily over the gravelly ground and humming a deep-pitched martial air.

‘I think -' Ugusawn began.

Before he could say more, the first of the tarnblaze bomb shells arced through the air like a low-flying meteorite and exploded with a stunning detonation
amidst the advancing host.

'Impossible,' Kalawnn said, falling back in horror at the sight.

Ugusawn could only curse and groan as he clutched the Gateway sigil. A second bomb exploded and then a third. After that, both of them lost count of the coruscant balls of death raining down upon the hapless troops. The things could not be deflected with talent. Some of them did not detonate, but instead gushed fountains of bluish-gold fire that clung to any flesh it touched and could not be quenched.

The symmetry of the march disintegrated as frenzied Salka broke formation and began to flee in all directions through the roiling smoke. Shattered bodies lay on the ground in pools of blood that appeared black beneath the pitiless Light of the aurora. The wounded
howled and cursed. A few courageous fighters brandished minor sigils, clashed their teeth ferociously, and cried out in frustration. 'Where are they? Where is the foe?'

'Where indeed?' Kalawnn croaked. He was sidling along at some distance from Ugusawnn now, trying to avoid the flailing wounded who would have taken hold of him in their agony and pulled him down. 'Use your windsight, colleague!' he entreated the Warrior, bespeaking him because the noise of the bombs and the screams of the dying and the panic-stricken made normal speech impossible.

‘I continue to do so - and yet there is nothing. Nothing!'

A sudden lull in the bombardment made it possible for the Eminences to gain an oversight of the rest of the column. The march had come to a precipitate halt. On the steeper slopes, scores of gigantic bodies crashed into one another and tumbled about in helpless confusion. Valiant officers on the flanks tried to restore order amongst knots of struggling troops and guide them into a proper retreat. They bludgeoned and hauled and roared commands, and in some areas it seemed that the chaos might be calming.

And then the dragons appeared out of nowhere. Their eldritch shrieks and nightmarish appearance sowed fresh
terror in warriors who had never encountered them before, and despair in veterans of the skirmishes around Beacon Lake. Taller than the great amphibians and infinitely more agile, their appalling tactic was to rend the tentacles of their enemies, leaving them helpless and bleeding to death. If a worm was cornered by superior numbers, it simply vanished.

Last of all came the humans led by Prince Dyfrig, mounted on their warhorses and armed with long spears tipped with sharp steel points. They darted about dispatching the fallen and pursuing Salka who fled downhill. If the lances broke, the humans took up crossbows that shot deadly broadheaded bolts, or fought with two-handed swords as long as a man was high. Their clever mounts wheeled and dodged and kept the riders balanced in the saddle as they hacked Salka to bits.

The carnage became so overwhelming that Kalawnn could no longer apprehend it. He called on the wind, pleading for Ugusawnn to fetch him and carry him to safety with Subtle Gateway, but there was no response.

'Are you dead, colleague?' he wailed. 'Have they struck you down and drained your blood or slain you with fire? We have lost this battle. I think we have lost the war as well! The Great Lights have abandoned us, even though the insignificant minor sigil I wear still glows.'

It was the end. If humans and great worms united in assailing the Salka, how could they ever hope to prevail in the new game? Their opponents could strike at them anywhere, when they least expected it. The Salka could only howl in pain and die. Or was there another choice?

'Might we be allowed to return in ignominy to Moss?' he whispered. 'Humans will deny us the prime areas, but perhaps they'd let us keep the Great Fen and the Hungry Sands. No one else wants them . . .'

Kalawnn began to laugh.

After that, thinking gave way to a vast apathy. The Master
Shaman viewed the scene on the ridge-slope as if it were taking place beneath murky water, and the fighting merely a kind of stylized dance. Even that slowed down to a quietus after a while. The human warriors and the worms went away.

He stumbled to a heap of boulders and took shelter behind them. He slept without dreaming, and when he woke, a man was standing over him.

'I've come for the Potency,' Deveron Austrey said.

* * *

Casya Pretender sheathed her broadsword and waved to Prince Dyfrig. He guided his mount through the bodies of the fallen monsters and saluted her by raising his bloody lance. The aurora was paling as the first light of dawn bright ened the eastern sky.

'Your Majesty of Didion, I think the field of battle is ours. The Salka are retreating full-tilt back toward the Dennech Valley, harried by Morass Worms. The very sight of our terrible allies seems to have broken their spirits.' He reached behind his leather cuirass and produced a small velvet sack. 'If you'll permit, I wish to give you a token of my admiration. Never have I seen such bravery as yours.'

She removed her gauntlets and opened the sack. At the sight of the necklace with its three great opals set in gold, she gasped. 'Your Grace - Dyfrig - I cannot -'

He closed her fingers over the gift. 'You must. You deserve to be adorned as a queen, and this necklace once belonged to another royal lady of great courage. She's dead now, and one day I hope to tell you her story. But believe me when I say that she would want you to have this.'

Casya lowered her helmeted head and fastened the catch behind her neck. 'Then I accept it with heartfelt gratitude, my prince.'

'There's something else I must tell you. It concerns your future in Didion. My father, the earl marshal, has in his safe
keeping a considerable treasure that was stolen from your country by Kilian Blackhorse. It consists of gold and precious jewels, taken from Kilian by Beynor of Moss, that were finally retrieved from that villain by Sir Deveron Austrey. The treasure belongs to the rightful Queen of Didion. I pray it will help you regain your throne.'

She looked at him aghast. ‘I know not what to say . . . except thank you.'

'What shall we do now? I confess that I've not seen any of our warriors - or the Morass Worms - since dawn began to break. I suppose they're in hot pursuit of the Salka.'

She frowned. 'We shall have to consult with King Coro and his generals before deciding upon the next course of action -'

An acerbic voice spoke out of thin air.
Better to consult with ME.

'Is that you Vaelrath?' Casya called.

The leader of the worms materialized, tall and awesome, her emerald gaze brilliant with triumph.
I
have commanded my people to carry your cavalry and grenadiers back to the Wold Road, where they may await the arrival of the Sovereign Army. A few score humans were wounded and eight men died. This we regret.

Dyfrig said, 'Thank you for your concern, Vaelrath. Will you now carry us away also?'

If you wish,
said the dragon.
You must be very weary.

'Not I,' Casya said, her eyes shining almost as brightly as the opals around her neck. 'I could fight on all through the new day at your side, if you'd have me.'

We would lief have your good counsel, Casabarela, rather than your sword. This country is strange to us. The second Salka force has abruptly halted its advance up the Shadow River. Their leaders are uncertain what to do. They have taken note of our presence and they are afraid. It's an opportunity not to be missed.

'I'll gladly advise you. New tactics will be called for, since
you'll be fighting the Salka in forested country. Prince Dyfrig -' She shot a tentative look at her companion.

'Let me help, too, Vaelrath. My generalship is hardly the equal of Her Majesty's, but I've been tutored in warfare by Cathra's Earl Marshal of the
Realm - as well as leading skirmishes against border bandits for half a dozen years.'

The worm nodded and made a gesture.
I
have opened the subtle corridor. Shall we go?

'Only please let Earl Marshal Parlian know where we've gone,' the prince said.

I
will bespeak one of the Zeth Brethren accompanying him.

'Tell Crown Prince Valardus's wizard as well,' Casya added with a wicked grin. 'Inform His Highness of Didion that I look forward to our meeting - when the battle is over.'

* * *

Rork Karum and his guests were eating their evening meal when the stout little house-wizard dashed into the great hall and made a stumbling obeisance.

'My lord duke, there's astonishing news on the wind! Every magicker on the island is bespeaking the tidings. The Salka are indeed in precipitate retreat, as was rumored earlier today. In fact..." He lowered his voice in portentous emphasis. 'One can see the brutes from the battlements!'

Shouts went up from the diners.

The pirate-lord sprang to his feet, pushing back his chair. 'Show us, man!'

The wizard dashed off, with Rork and most of the castle-dwellers and servitors pounding in his wake. The village refugees sitting at the low tables hesitated for a moment, then shuffled off in pursuit. Only Orrion, Nyla, and Countess Orvada were left in the hall. Even Rork Karum's hunting dogs had run away, baying with excitement.

'And so it ends, my ladies,' Orrion said. 'The Joint Fleet will be awaiting the monsters outside Terminal Bay. Only by
scattering can the Salka hope to escape. I wonder where they'll go?'

'To hell, one would hope,' whispered Nyla.

'Morass Worms!' Countess Orvada shook her head. 'Led by the Wold Wraith and Dyfrig the royal bastard. It's passing strange. And if the rumors be true, only a handful of our brave warriors actually engaged the enemy - aside from speeding their withdrawal.'

Orrion took Nyla's hand. 'Shall we also go out and watch them, love?'

'If you wish.'

He asked the countess, 'Will you also come, madam?'

Orvada sighed as she reached for the crystal wine flask. 'You young people go. I'll stay here and celebrate. I've seen enough Salka, thank you very much.'

Strangely somber, the two of them went off - not to the keep battlements, as Rork Karum, his retainers, and the surviving villagers had done, but to the castle's eastern turret, which overlooked the mouth of the Dennech River.

After they had gained the top, they stood side by side in silence for a long time, watching the dark tide of bodies emerge from the river and disappear into the sunset-tinged waters of the bay. From their high vantage point, all they could hear was the soft moaning of the wind.

'Look at them,' Nyla said at last. 'They seem so tiny and ineffectual. But they would have eaten us alive if it had not been for you.
You
saved us, Orrion. Only you.'

He said nothing.

'What will become of us now?' Her tone was almost forlorn. 'Rork Karum has said he'll let us go, but must we return to Cathra where you will be imprisoned?'