As the last of the fragments fused, allowing plenty of room for the cord and leaving no jagged edges that would tear his flesh, Nara healed the surrounding tissue, then opened her eyes.
“It’s done. You can take off the brace.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. It will be swollen and stiff. Not sure how long that will take to finish healing, but the injury is repaired.”
Ferron sobbed. “I thought I was dead. The blood. And—”
“Not dead. Not today. You’ll soon be drinking ale and squealing out more bad songs.”
“Hey,” he said, wiping one eye. “I’m a great singer!”
Nara chuckled. “Yes, you are, my friend. Now rest.”
She rose, intending to locate Jahmai, but found him standing a few feet away.
“That’s handy,” he said. “When this is over, open a hospital. Show other knitters how you do that.”
“It’s more complicated than that, Ander.”
“How so?”
“It takes years for a knitter to visualize injuries well. And lots of training. Anatomy, mostly. I cheat. It’s hard to explain.”
He shrugged.
“Tell me about the other outposts,” she said.
“Mykel led fifty against the southern post, and they gave up right away. The outpost at the port was abandoned by the time they arrived. They must have expected him. Our forces have just returned.”
“That’s quick. How long was I out?”
“A few hours.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Not at all. Your reputation preceded you. Nobody wanted to fight, as I expected. Not after this.”
“Good. Then we have time to do something.”
Jahmai raised an eyebrow.
“Tomorrow, early, take half our war chest. Spread it among the men—not as wages, but with a mission. To buy food and supplies, give them to the people. The poorest ones first. Tell them that there is a change coming. We’re fighting against Fairmont and we need help, but when we have extra, we share. We’re not like her.”
“You want to spend thousands of crowns on food?”
“Yes. And we won’t buy just food. Also bedding. Shoes for kids. We’ll hire builders to fix roofs or anything that is needed. This isn’t just about the people; I want our soldiers to be part of something positive. To heal. We tell them to fight and they obey, but killing exacts a toll on the victorious. Men can’t wade through blood and horror, then walk away unscathed. It has to weigh on them for long after.”
“It does. Not that any of us are eager to admit it.”
“And we never know if we will win a battle, but this is a guaranteed win. Our men will be heroes to little kids with hungry bellies. Saviors to the mothers who struggle every day to survive. Role models for men who may join us.”
He scratched the side of his head. “Interesting. Not my style, but I think I like it. Might bring new recruits. But it will bring problems, too. Soldiers get into trouble when they have money and the bars are open. This might not go as easy as you hope.”
“Put them in groups of two or three for accountability. Set a curfew so they aren’t out beyond dark. Let them know that Mykel and I will be watching. If we hold our expectations high, they will meet them. They need this, Ander. To be the good guys for a while. One day of charity, then we march north.”
“Understood.”
She moved about the outpost, greeting the men. Each time she found an injured soldier, she removed his bandage and knitted the wound, however minor, remaining a while to speak with him. There were young men and old, family men, boys, and many gruff veterans, but all were grateful for her attention.
Afterward, she went looking for Mykel, wandering out the north gate, broken as it was, and into the clearing beyond. Or what used to be a clearing. It was cluttered now, with so much damage to the earth. She yearned to fix what she had broken but paused before acting. As she surveyed the area, she realized how little control she’d had. And how the fight against Kayna would be a different struggle than the Great Land had seen before. She was no lord fighting over territory or for money. This was bigger than that, and she must fight it differently. She would need to be disciplined, not haphazard with her magic. This broken earth would serve as a reminder of her need for restraint. Maybe she would come back and fix it, someday.
She circled the outpost and found Mykel training with a large group to the south among boulders, pits, and columns. They drilled with swords and spears, some even carrying shields. The ranks were swelling fast, more than doubling since the morning. She watched them form lines, then upon command from Martel, retreat into a semicircle, shield-bearers facing out. A choppy transition, with civilians trying to learn what the veterans had known for years.
She wandered to the edge of the field near some trees, still keeping in sight of the outpost but far enough away that nobody would notice her. The solitude was a rare treat, and there was much to think on. They would feed the people in Ankar, but should still have enough for the push north.
She thought about how small her army still was. Even if they doubled in size before arriving in Fairmont, this was a fool’s errand, unless Nara could come up with something to even the odds against Kayna.
Yet, the battle this morning was a victory and was encouraging for the men. And she would pretend to be encouraged as well, but no matter how much confidence she feigned for the benefit of others, she didn’t feel it herself. Kayna could control air currents so perfectly that she floated on them, showing a mastery of magic far exceeding Nara’s. Kayna would not be foolish with her energies, and if she got tired, she could just suck the life out of someone–maybe even her own soldiers.
Mykel worried about Nara’s level of control and said as much whenever he got the chance. If she didn’t care so much, if she could quell her passion somehow, she’d be able to restrain herself, but when the battle began and people fell, she didn’t know how to calm her spirit. How could she force herself to not care?
A fallen tree blocked her path, and she climbed over it, then kneeled down and grabbed a handful of dirt and pebbles. That’s all it was to most people. Dirt. Good for growing crops. Others didn’t see it the way she did, yet they depended on it. Every step, they trusted it to hold them. Earth was the foundation of all life and often taken for granted.
She sat, leaning her back against the fallen tree, and put both hands into the soil. Flaring earth and sight at the same time, she reached down with her awareness. She was looking, but not for something in particular. Just looking.
Through the soil, the sight rune gave a different feeling. A different experience. She wasn’t Nara anymore; she was the earth. Rock. Mountains. Sand and bedrock. She felt the footfalls of citizens in Ankar going about their daily chores as they walked upon her. Vibrations from wagons rolled along her back, and she sensed the gentle roll of waves crashing on her beach rocks near Ankar’s port. Farther north, she sensed travelers camped on her hills, moose walking, and a fox digging a den under a fallen log. She sensed the movement of rocks in her belly, grinding against one another. And heat inside her mountains, alive and churning, hidden from the knowings of men.
Wow, that was incredible. She’d never flared sight and earth at the same time before. This wasn’t a combat premonition, knowing enemy actions before they struck. Nor was it a vision, like the one of Dimmitt’s fall. It was more like Mykel’s staff rune, seeing what mattered to the staff. Using sight this way showed what mattered to the earth. And it brought peace. So big. So powerful. And it made her feel so small.
She let the runes drop and opened her eyes, the worries about Kayna and the upcoming struggle much diminished. As she stood, her balance faltered. Returning to her own perspective was a rough transition, and a bout of dizziness had her leaning against the log for a moment. Earth magic was an odd thing, and there was much to learn.
It was early the next day when they headed out to the streets of Ankar, money in hand. Nara stood on the roof of a
tavern at the edge of the market, watching as a dirty-faced toddler clung to her mother’s leg. The mother couldn’t have been older than Nara, By her garb, it was easy to see that she was poor—her hair was matted and she wore ratty shoes and a dress that had seen better days. Two older rough-looking soldiers were offering a basket of bread to the mother, and she tentatively reached out, then took a single loaf.
“No, take it all, woman,” the soldier said, pushing the basket into her chest, almost knocking her back. “And some of these,” he said, dropping half a dozen copper bits in the basket.
Geez, they should be more gentle. She’s afraid.
The woman put the loaf back in the basket and clasped the handle. “Thank you,” she said, looking around defensively.
“You’re welcome,” said the other soldier, who wore a big grin on his face. “Tell everyone we are marching on Fairmont. We need able bodies, if they’re willing.” They walked away, fishing through pockets for coins, probably to buy more bread.
Nara watched as two other soldiers filled a handcart with fruit and vegetables, then dropped coins into the vendor’s palm. They wheeled the cart down the street, calling out. “Hungry? Come get free food.” A boy stood on the opposite side of the street and the soldiers stopped. “Catch,” one called to the lad, then threw an apple.
The boy leaped to catch it in his left hand, then immediately put it to his mouth and took a bite. “Thanks,” he said through a mouthful.
Nara smiled as the men kept rolling the cart. This was a good thing.
At first, Mykel scoffed at spending so much money on the people of Ankar. After a couple of hours watching, however, Nara saw him join in the distribution, buying dozens of children’s shoes and ferrying them along the street in a wagon, inviting little ones to hop up and try them on.
Nara jumped from rooftop to rooftop as she watched the charity in action, witnessing the reactions of the parents, the children, and, more importantly, the soldiers. They loved it. They sang and whistled, and those who were suspicious at first soon relaxed and smiled. Citizens thanked the soldiers, and there were more tears and hugs exchanged than she could count.
As night approached, Jahmai summoned them all back to the outpost, pockets empty but hearts full. Several large bonfires raged in the open area, and pigs roasted on spits propped on braces between boulders and columns. Spirits were high among the army, with many laughs and songs throughout the evening.
“That was a good thing today,” Mykel said as they sipped from mugs of hot apple wine. “I don’t think the men are worrying about a thing right now.”
“It’s our job to lead,” Nara said. “It’s theirs to follow and fight. But leading is more than just battle. It’s about leading their hearts, and I’m glad they could have this.”
“Me too,” Jahmai said, joining them, holding his own mug. “You two are a blessing. I mean that. Whatever happens, many will remember this day. I’ve never seen these men so happy on the eve of a long march, and the recruits are swelling our ranks by the hour.”
“How many so far?”
“You have an army of almost three hundred right now. More by morning, for sure. Able is keeping a roster and giving updates.”
“How many are garrisoned near Fairmont?” Mykel asked.
“At least two thousand. Probably three, since Kayna will summon more from outlying areas when she hears what happened here.”
“Three hundred against three thousand?” Nara shook her head. “We’re gonna need a miracle.”
“No, we won’t,” Jahmai said, looking at Nara. “We have you.”
29
Beast
Kayna stood in a sentry tower as training exercises took place in the open area below. Ennis never envisioned the compound to be a training ground, but General Almit didn’t want either of the two projects to be far from their cells, just in case something went wrong. Staying close would allow Kayna to manage things if they got out of control. With what was at stake, she was happy to oblige.
The Dimmitt boy fought with a hammer and shield among a dozen armored opponents, his size and strength giving him an advantage over the soldiers that prodded him with wood sticks and guarded themselves with shields. Teaching the monster to fight well would be difficult, and they may not have time for him to develop much skill, but the armor was nearly complete and his ability to heal would serve well in battle. The men called him Beast, and the name had stuck. His size, ferocity, and slightly misshapen form certainly fit the moniker.
Although his growth had finally stopped, he was easily eight feet tall, thicker than an oak tree, and ate as much as ten men. He took to the health rune quickly, but even with a week of practice, he still couldn’t flare the strength rune. In truth, he didn’t need it—his size provided a strength that approached that of a bear even now. Still, he almost flared the rune twice today, so it wouldn’t be much longer. When he found it, he would be a juggernaut on any battlefield, even without skill. But they had erred with him, going too far on the conditioning. He remembered nothing of his former life, which was good, but he’d even forgotten most words. Ennis sent an officer to hire tutors so the boy could learn to speak again, but progress was slow, especially since he murdered the first tutor they sent—a redhead—crushing her the moment she entered his cell. A foolish error.
Kayna’s other project was a girl who now practiced against a large circle of dummies holding pikes and spears. She stood over six feet tall and darted about with unnatural speed, holding wooden knives she used to stab at the mannequins, shredding her silent opponents. They had found her in a village near Glennway, at fifteen years old. Her transformation hadn’t cost her memory or her words, showing a resilience not seen in the males.
Health didn’t work on her, though. Even after an accurate inscription, she couldn’t see it, much less flare it, which was disappointing. Cursed had perplexing limitations, but Ennis moved forward with the project anyway, burning off the scar to try again. She took to the steelskin rune and recently mastered speed, a great talent in combat. Kayna wondered if they should try another rune but was cautious about getting greedy this time. With two cursed and many new gifted, her army should easily overcome Nara’s little rebellion.
Kayna climbed down from the tower and approached the circle where Beast trained. As she got closer, he noticed her and turned, immediately taking a knee in the middle of the fray. She walked up to him, smiling.
“How are you doing today, Beast?”
“Goot,” he said in a booming voice. Even kneeling, he was taller than Kayna, and she reached up to brush his black hair aside and put a hand on his cheek. Then she moved around to rub his back.
Beast closed his eyes. “Mama,” he breathed, and his shoulders relaxed.
He called her that whenever she touched him. Mama. Odd thing. And strange how her touch calmed him so. How much he desired to please her.
“Now fight!” Kayna ordered, then rose into the air upon a gust of wind.
Beast bolted upright at her command, springing into action with eyes wide, brandishing the hammer at the soldiers who challenged him. He swung feverishly and advanced, the vigor in his assault increasing markedly with Kayna now watching from above. Even without a strength rune, the hammer struck shields and sent men flying backward.
“Harder!” Kayna said.
He charged directly into three men. One of them braced the butt of his spear on the ground, putting the tip through Beast’s left shoulder. Beast bellowed and crushed the man’s head with his hammer, then dropped his shield and removed the impaled spear with his left hand. The wound closed instantly, and Beast charged several more men, who ran.
“Down, Beast!” Kayna shouted, and the monster immediately took a knee, breathing heavily.
She knelt at his side, rubbed his back again, and felt him relax again under her touch.
Ennis walked up, cautiously. “Did he get strength yet?”
Kayna turned to face him. “Not today. But we’re close. Tomorrow mayb
e. I can’t imagine what he’ll be like when he finds it.”
“Me either,” Ennis said.
“What’s your report?” she asked.
“Armor is done. Fitting this afternoon, if he’ll do it.”
She turned to Beast, continuing to rub his back. “He’ll do anything I say.”
30
Nightlight
When Nara awoke, she expected to eat and begin preparations for the march north but immediately sensed something was off. She left her tent to find soldiers packing wagons here and there, but to the north of the outpost, she heard a noise. It wasn’t fighting. It was cheering.
She ran through the destroyed gate and out into the field where Lieutenant Martel, Wileman, and several dozen of her men were trying to organize a rowdy crowd of citizens, mostly young men. Were they demanding more food?
She reached to the nearest soldier, who didn’t seem to be concerned. “What’s happening?”
“They’re here for us, Majesty.”
For us?
“They want to join. They want to fight in Fairmont.”
“Oh,” she said. She looked at the long lines. Dozens. Maybe hundreds. “Wow.”
Mykel was talking with some men off to the right, and Nara walked over to meet with them. As she approached, Mykel looked to her and spoke to the men, who took a knee and lowered their eyes.
“Stand up,” she said. “Please.”
They stood slowly, apprehensively, and she introduced herself, shaking hands with many of them. “I’m Nara.”
The men smiled and shook her hand vigorously.
“Your plan worked,” Mykel said. “They want to join. Jahmai thinks we’ll have close to seven hundred before we leave today.”
She nodded. Seven hundred. More than they expected, for sure. They didn’t have seven hundred swords, though. Or seven hundred suits of armor. But with a couple of weeks of travel before Fairmont, they’d find time to make spears along the way. She smiled.
Finding Kai Page 18