Tears of War (63 page)

Kalila stood on the ramparts with Sehlas and Lalani, her Defenders arranged around them, watching Merru glide across the sky. Every now and then she needed a chance to relax and not think of everything that went with ruling a nation. Loki and the gold hadn’t patrolled beyond sight of the city in the month since they nearly lost each other. She supposed she couldn’t blame them; it had been a close call.

Jocelynn and Varnen patrolled farther out. Kalila smiled to herself. She really liked those two. Efficient and dedicated to their duties, they were also friendly. Watching them together also warmed the heart.

Merru bugled what she’d come to recognize as a welcome call. Above her the swirling heat wave look of a Slide opened and a silver dragon came through. Odd, there was no rider. What was Paki doing here without Taela? A lump of worry built in her gut. Surely nothing bad had happened to Kellinar’s bondmate.

As Paki landed in the inner courtyard, Kalila ran down the stairs from the wall walk to meet her. “Paki, what’s wrong?” she asked as she drew close, with the others right behind her.

“Your help is needed.”

The words thundered into her mind. Kalila grabbed her head as her knees buckled under the weight of the dragon’s thoughts. Sehlas’ strong arms kept her from hitting the stones. She looked up at the dragon through hazy eyes. “What help?”

“War visits Trilene as Kellinar tries to free the people of the Mallay from the Shadow Dragons. Hanover and Turindar have sent their armies to help the Trilene. All in the Mallay will be killed without outside help.”

Kalila nearly passed out from the strength of the thoughts filling her mind. She managed to nod. “Help will come.”

Paki bobbed her head in acknowledgement.
“I will return. Wait for me and be ready. There isn’t much time.”
She lifted off. Kalila took a shuddering breath as the wind from the dragon’s wings whipped around her. Within moments, the silver opened another Slide and disappeared.

Merru and Loki landed in her place. Loki jumped down from the gold and knelt in front of her, the catcher strap still on his ankle. “What happened? Why was Paki here without Taela?”

Kalila climbed to her feet with the help of Sehlas. “Trilene is about to come apart at the seams and the Trilene are doing their best to take out the Mallay.” She took a deep breath and rubbed her temples in an attempt to relieve the lingering ache and pressure from the communication with Paki. “Turindar and Hanover have sent their armies in support of the Trilene.”

“They’ll be crushed.” Worry filled Loki’s eyes.

“Not without a fight they won’t.” Kalila turned to Sehlas and Lalani. “Gather the Houses. Markene will march to the aid of the Mallay.”

Lalani shook her head. “Your people will follow you at this point, but the loss of life will be heavy. You may lose their faith and in the process your throne over this.”

Sehlas glared at the Spirit mage. “There are some things that are worth more than a throne. This is one of them.”

Kalila stepped back from Sehlas. “He is right. I am willing to put my throne on the line. I will not sit here and allow them to be slaughtered.”

“It is your choice.” Lalani inclined her head.

“Gather the Houses,” Kalila said and strode toward the keep.

Emallya hurried onto the outer terrace in surprise as Paki landed in the caldera minus her rider. Bardeck ran from the equipment cave. “Paki, what happened?”

Mernoth approached, his eyes on the silver. Paki swung her head toward him. Within moments, Mernoth played the events of the day in Emallya’s mind. She looked at her bondmate. He nodded and she turned back to Paki. “Galdrilene stands with them. Mernoth will bring us.”

Paki huffed a warm breath at each of them then launched into the sky.

Shryden covered the distance to Las Fane in less than two days. Since he’d never seen it, nor had the other dragons, he wasn’t able to Slide there. The white walls and blue-tiled roofs stood bright against the trees that surrounded it, and the dark blue waters of the bay where the Blood River let out into the Saragon Sea.

People screamed and ran as he landed on the wall surrounding the castle keep. He didn’t know where to find her. He knew only that she was a member of a high-ranking family. Not even Kellinar’s memory held the information. She had never told him which family.

There was only one way to go about finding her. “Ariana,” he broadcasted it across the whole city. Everywhere people dropped to their knees, their hands flying to their heads. He snorted, as if hands could keep his voice out. He wished he had more information to go on. One thing he knew for sure, they weren’t sympathetic to the Shadow Riders.

Arrows pinged off his scales. He ignored them.
“Ariana, please. I don’t know how else to find you and Kellinar needs your help.”

After several minutes a young woman stumbled from the keep with an older man and regiment of soldiers gathered around them. None of them looked steady on their feet.

“I’m here,” she called up to him.

“What do you want with my daughter?” the older man yelled, his face clouded with anger and fear.

Shryden focused his thoughts on Ariana and her father.
“The Trilene have fallen to the Shadow Riders. Kellinar is trying to save the people of the Mallay, along with Lord Vesnar of the High Houses.”

Ariana clung to a soldier’s arm though she still stood. Her adopted father was already on his knees. This girl had strength. She gazed up at him. “My father? What needs to be done?”

“Turindar and Hanover have sent their armies in support of the Trilene. The Shadow Riders will also throw their support behind the Trilene. Without help, everyone in the Mallay and anyone who supports them will be slaughtered.”

She looked at him, confusion written on her face. “How does Kellinar figure into this? Who are you and how are you connected to him?”

“I am Shryden. Kellinar is my rider and a Guardian of Galdrilene. We oppose everything the Shadow Riders stand for.”

Arianna struggled to remain standing. “We? There are more like you?”

“Yes. Will you help us? Your letter said Las Fane was against the Shadow Riders. Will you allow them to kill those in the Mallay?”

She looked at her adopted father then back to him. “We must discuss it. How long do we have? Can you give us a day? My father is king and can send the Las Fane army anywhere he wishes, but still, it would be best if we had the support of the other nobles.”

“I can give you a day. I will wait. I don’t know this place well enough to feel comfortable Sliding back.”

Shryden could see he had confused her with that last remark. She nodded anyway and together with her adopted father, she made her way back inside the keep.

K
ellinar paced back and forth across the terrace. It had been three full days since Shryden left and though the dragon assured him he was alright, he let nothing else leak through. The Mallay was quieter than usual. Most of the men had left for the docks or vineyards that morning, but the market square was empty. Only a few men were missing from the district. Three or four of the herders had kept a portion of the livestock out of the city overnight, herding the animals well away. It was a small pooling of the individual herds, not enough to be noticed by anyone, but enough though to hopefully give the people a start somewhere else.

On the wall of the Trilene District high above, flashes of color could be seen as soldiers looked down at them. Not that there was much to see, most people were keeping to their houses as they frantically packed what they could carry.

The remaining goats bleated in protest at not being taken to pasture that day. Children were silent though as if picking up on the tension of their elders. Inside the Thieves’ Caves, packing was under way as well. By the next morning, the Mallay would be empty.

He turned as Belan walked out onto the terrace. “Vesnar will have his soldiers at the gate by morning; we should be able to get the men out.”

If he could truly be trusted to be there when it was time. “What about the women, children, and elderly?” Kellinar asked, suddenly worried. If the Shadow Riders arrived to head them off it would leave them trapped between the Mallay wall and likely Kojen. Pile of rotting Shadow carcasses, why hadn’t he thought of that?

“Kellinar, relax. That thought occurred to me in the middle of the night. Several of the thieves are going to take them out through the Thieves’ Exit tonight and hide them in the canyon. By this time the messengers will have informed every family in the Mallay.” Belan rubbed the back of his neck. “I hope there is someone left to lead them out of the canyon and to where ever we decide to go from here.”

Kellinar nodded, silently acknowledging the fact there might not be much left besides the women and children, and not even that if the Shadow Riders found them. Where in the name of the Fates was Shryden?

Serena and Anevay had flown reconnaissance that morning and came back with news that the two approaching armies were now accompanied by Shadow Dragons. The gut feelings that had always kept him one step ahead of trouble screamed at him to get out. Restlessness filled him and he resumed pacing. “How soon until we leave?”

“We will start moving the women and children as soon as full dark arrives. We’ll move them in small groups to keep it as quiet as possible. Then we’ll get the men through the city gate just before dawn when the guard on the Trilene and Dellar walls will be at its least watchful.”