When no answer was forthcoming, Tevi shifted around slightly and tilted Jemeryl’s head so that their eyes met.
“Jem?”
Jemeryl’s face contorted in the effort to force out the words. Tears were forming in her eyes. “After Anid told me about the dragon taking you. I found Mavek alone. I attacked him.”
“You used magic against him?”
“Yes.”
“Did you hurt him much?”
“Oh yes. I ripped his aura to pieces. Torture would have been a soft option by comparison. He is so much weaker than me. He couldn’t defend himself.” The tears were now running down Jemeryl’s face.
“He’s not dead?”
“No. Just a little insane. Hopefully his memory of it will be patchy, but...”
Tevi pulled Jemeryl into her arms, but this was partly for time to sort out her expression. On the islands of her birth, only women were given the strength potion. The result was that she had been brought up to think of men as weak and needing protection. For a woman to attack a man was the action of a thug and a coward. Even after years on the mainland, Tevi could still feel her islander morality offended when she saw men mistreated.
Of course, she knew that the reaction was illogical. On the mainland, men were often stronger than women. However, in this case, Jemeryl herself conceded that Mavek had stood no chance. Tevi felt judgmental words forming on her lips. She fought them back. Jemeryl was neither a thug nor a coward, and her tormented expression showed that she was already berating herself more than adequately. Tevi hunted around in search of something reassuring to say. Her lover was in need of support.
“He was the one who started all this. He only has himself to blame.”
“Oh no. I went far beyond what was justified. I’m worse than him.”
“You haven’t killed anyone.”
“I have. On the way here...hundreds, maybe.”
“What! Who?”
“Soldiers...people who attacked me.”
Tevi did not know what to say. Cruelty and aggression were two things that she had never witnessed in her lover—two things that she would have said were totally absent from Jemeryl’s nature. And she knew Jemeryl better than she had ever known anyone else, maybe even better than she knew herself.
She drew back and stared deeply into Jemeryl’s eyes. Her confusion retreated. Whatever had driven Jemeryl to her actions, Tevi was certain that her lover was, if not blameless, then at least understandable and forgivable. Maybe in the future they might discuss all the issues; what was needed now was unequivocal backing.
“If you were attacked, then you’re allowed to defend yourself.”
“Mavek didn’t attack me.”
“He murdered Bykoda in cold blood. And he is consciously planning to use the talisman, which is as good as murdering thousands more.”
“So was I.”
“No. You didn’t plan it out in advance. You didn’t have months or years to make a decision. You weren’t in your right mind when you did it...any of it.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
“How can you?”
“Because I know the woman I love.”
*
Captain Curnad bowed and left the rooftop terrace. Jemeryl watched until he had disappeared down the ladder and then turned her attention to the road from Tirakhalod. At this exact time one day ago, she had been riding down it approaching Uzhenek, alone and in dread. Today, she was reunited with Tevi and had, apparently, a dozen of Bykoda’s ex-army witches as followers.
Curnad had just been trying to negotiate promises of a position in the new Empire in exchange for his support. In the end, Jemeryl had found it best to hint that the post of regional commander might be his reward. She had thought it safer than admitting she was planning on leaving Uzhenek before dawn.
In truth, Jemeryl would have preferred to stay a day or two longer in the city and recover from her exhaustion, but she dared not let Mavek catch up with her. Even the one day she had allowed herself was a luxury of questionable wisdom. In all honesty, Jemeryl knew that she had not been in a fit state to travel. And after the battle in the Redezth fort, she had pressed on at a pace that Mavek, with an army in tow, would not be able to match. However, with an uncertain future, every day’s lead they had over him should be preserved.
Jemeryl sat on the balustrade and looked down. Curnad was marching back to his makeshift headquarters in the old armoury. Jemeryl smiled, noting that despite Curnad’s talk of loyalty and trust, she and Tevi had been given rooms in a rather less secure building. A disturbance on the other side of the hilltop then caught Jemeryl’s attention. Tevi was returning, surrounded by a enthusiastic mixed group of soldiers, refugees, and children.
As far as any of the townsfolk were concerned, the Dragon Slayer was ruler of the city. Only the witches were aware of who and what Jemeryl was, and from what Curnad had said, he was assuming that she was keeping Tevi as a figurehead as part of a devious plan to outmanoeuvre Mavek. Fortunately, he had not presumed to ask questions as to what this plan might be, and thus saved Jemeryl the job of inventing a plausible explanation.
In another couple of minutes, Tevi joined her on the rooftop. Jemeryl felt a small knot of tension in her stomach loosen. Even though her confidence was returning, she still wanted to have her lover within arm’s reach. Jemeryl beckoned Tevi over to the balustrade and planted a quick kiss of greeting on her lips once she was seated.
“Did you have a nice walk?”
“Not really. Uzhenek is a dump and the people are too...” Tevi shrugged.
“Why did you go?”
“Because I feel that I owe it to them.” Tevi indicated the town with a vague wave of her arm. “They think I’m going to protect them, and look after them, and make sure they’re all fed and healthy and safe from harm. I feel bad knowing I’m about to desert them. And playing the hero game is making it worse.”
“You’re not responsible for them. You didn’t volunteer for the job.”
Tevi frowned glumly. “No. But I still feel guilty at the thought of abandoning them. I’ve been accepting their food and accommodation and everything. I shouldn’t have gone along with the role of leader if I wasn’t willing to accept everything that goes with it.”
“If it makes you any happier, you are protecting them. They may not know it, but the greatest threat they face at the moment is Mavek getting his hands on the talisman.” Jemeryl interlaced her fingers with Tevi’s. “Surely it’s a wise and noble leader who does what is necessary to save her people, even when she can’t explain it to them and take the credit for her actions.”
“Now you’re poking fun at me.” Despite her words, an amused grin grew on Tevi’s face.
“Just a little.” Jemeryl barged her gently with her shoulder. “Curnad was here, by the way.”
“What did he want?”
“An important job in my Empire when I take over. I’ve offered him the post of regional commander. I hope you don’t mind. You weren’t expecting the job yourself, were you?”
Tevi’s grin widened. “No. He can have it. Just as long as you have something suitable lined up for me.”
“I was thinking about the Empress’ official bed warmer.”
“I’d like to think that I was overqualified for the post.”
“Maybe, but it comes with a range of benefits that might interest you.”
A noise from the hilltop interrupted any reply Tevi might have made. Several people were running towards their building, clearly bringing an urgent report. Tevi left the balustrade and crouched by the top of the ladder. In a few seconds more, Jemeryl heard excited shouts from the room below.
“I’m up here,” Tevi called down.
A sharp exchange followed in one of the local dialects unfamiliar to Jemeryl, although Tevi appeared to follow it without difficulty. The news was clearly both unexpected and problematic. Tevi’s expression became steadily more concerned.
�
�What is it?” Jemeryl asked.
Tevi shook her head, frowning. “They say there’s a large army heading towards the city from the north.”
“Mavek? How far away is he?”
“That’s just it. They say only a few miles.”
Jemeryl stood and went to the north facing side of the roof. The road to Tirakhalod cut diagonally across the valley floor and disappeared over the distant escarpment. How could Mavek have got to them so quickly? And why had there been no news of the army’s approach until they were upon the city? There had to be some mistake. But even as she watched, she saw the first banners appear on the opposite valley wall.
“Is it Mavek?” Tevi asked at her shoulder.
“I don’t see how it can be. I’m going to check.”
Jemeryl summoned Klara to her wrist. In seconds, she had transferred her senses to the magpie and was off, flying over Uzhenek.
The first detachments of the advancing army, cavalry units, were already onto the valley floor and sweeping west, flanking the city. Jemeryl swooped low over the galloping horses. The riders were frantically spurring their mounts onwards, as if in a race. Jemeryl circled them once but could see no banner or face that she recognised. The leaders plunged into the Kladjishe without breaking stride and began to ford the river.
She turned back to the main body of the army. More and more soldiers were appearing. Who were they? And where had they come from? And then, among the leading squadrons on the road, Jemeryl saw the unmistakable form of the huge blacksmith mounted on a black horse.
Mavek and his escort were progressing at a steady canter along the road. But could these horses have come all the way from Tirakhalod? Unlike her own mount the previous night, they were stepping briskly, with no trace of tiredness. Jemeryl knew of various spells that could be used to invigorate animals, but they were short-term measures, and fiddly to apply successfully. Quite apart from any moral considerations, it would be impractical to cast them on every single horse and soldier in an army. How many troops did Mavek have with him?
Bewildered, Jemeryl flew north, climbing the valley wall and over the top. Now at last she could see the full extent of the army. Behind the cavalry units were rank upon rank of foot soldiers, thousands strong, all in full battle array, and all of them were running.
*
Once night had fallen, the surrounding ring of campfires and torches made the extent of the encircling army apparent to everyone in Uzhenek. Tension rose in the besieged city, but as yet, the mood was defiant and the wearing of blue and black braids was even more in evidence. Some people had progressed to matching face paint made from soot and berries.
Tevi strode around the perimeter of Uzhenek, arrayed in armour and putting on a show of confidence for the benefit of anyone watching. She now had Ranenok’s rune sword at her side, but otherwise was kitted in the clothes and equipment she had got from Shard.
She did not say much but would frequently send a condescending look in the direction of the nearest enemy position and then catch the eye of one of her sentries and smile, as if sharing a private joke. So far, the ploy was proving surprisingly effective. As she moved on, muttered comments behind her would invariably assert that victory was a forgone conclusion. Tevi hoped that they were right.
Ideally, she would have been with Jemeryl, making plans. However, Mavek was unlikely to do anything before morning, while the situation in the town might hit a crisis without warning. And so she was out rallying the troops while Jemeryl was engaged in placating talks with the officer witches. The planning could wait until everyone was as happy as possible and unlikely to do anything rash.
Time crept by. Tevi wished that she did not feel so much of a sham, but she could tell that her visible presence on the streets was having its effect. Many people were even feeling secure enough to seek their beds, and the streets were emptying. Nobody was panicking or spreading wild rumours. The soldiers standing sentry all were looking positive and disciplined.
At the side of town beneath the valley wall, she paused. This was the point where the two opposing lines were closest. Mavek’s troops were occupying the high ground above her, little more than a furlong away. They were near enough to hear, and normally Tevi would have expected distant singing, officers shouting orders, the clank of steel, and the whinnies of horses. However, the enemy were unnaturally silent. Was this a good or a bad sign?
Her own side were far more typical of soldiers on the eve of battle. Her job in boosting morale was done. Tevi was debating whether she should make one last circuit of the town, or if she should check the armoury, when a young woman raced up. The girl was fifteen or so, with the blond hair and broad face of the plainsmen, and sporting no fewer than four blue and black braids.
“Ma’am. A herald has arrived from the enemy. Your consort suggests you might want to return and hear the message.”
Tevi restrained her grin at the word consort. There was clearly no doubt in the townsfolks’ minds as to which one of them was having her bed warmed. It also answered her question about what to do next. Tevi turned and headed back to the centre of town.
Presumably to give an air of formality to the audience, somebody had placed a high-sided chair in their room and draped it in fur and bright cloth to make it more throne-like. However, when Tevi entered, Jemeryl was still standing. She was also alone, apart from Klara perched on the chair’s back. The sorcerer looked tired and agitated, but gave a warm smile.
“You got the message?”
“The herald? Yes.” Tevi glanced around. “Where...?”
“He’ll be here soon. Mavek is mind-riding an ordinary soldier. I thought it would be wise for Curnad to check him out for dart guns or other hidden surprises.”
“Mind-riding?” Tevi understood the term. She had seen Jemeryl perform the trick often enough with Klara. The use of a human as the subject was what concerned Tevi. The ruthless abuse of magic was common in Tirakhalod, but not something she would have expected from Mavek.
“Obviously he wants to talk with me himself but is only prepared to risk putting someone expendable within striking distance of me.” Jemeryl looked down, shamefaced. “I guess I can’t blame him.”
Tevi might have argued, but at that point, the door opened and the herald was ushered in. As Jemeryl had said, the man was a common soldier, dressed in the tattered and dirt-stained relics of Bykoda’s uniform. The only thing to mark him as an official herald was the broken arrow he carried, a sign of truce.
However, the man’s appearance was not without significance—if you knew what to look for. His manner caught Tevi’s attention at once. His movements were jerky and his hands trembled. His lips had a blue tinge. The pupils of his eyes were too large and too dark. Bloody rags fringed the tops of his boots. Tevi caught her breath. The implications were appalling and she wondered whether Jemeryl would realise the significance.
Captain Curnad had followed the herald into the room and now stood by the doorway, looking hopeful. He clearly would have liked to stay for the discussion, but Jemeryl waved him away. As he left, he cast a resentful scowl at Tevi, although he made no complaint.
Jemeryl waited for a few seconds after the door was closed before speaking—possibly using her sorcerer senses to check that Curnad was not loitering outside. “Mavek, I don’t know what you’re hoping to achieve by this. You know I won’t give you the talisman. It isn’t safe to use.”
“Bykoda used it all right. But if you’re worried about safety, why don’t you join me? You can monitor what I do with it to make sure there are no risks. Don’t you see that it will work out well for both of us? If...if I have Kenan...” For a moment his composure faltered. “I’ve got to have Kenan. Then I won’t have any reason to kill Bykoda, so you’ll get your partner back as well. Nobody will be hurt. We’ll both be happy.” The herald’s voice was at least an octave higher than Mavek’s bass rumble, but the intonation was instantly identifiable as the blacksmith’s.
Tevi guessed that he had not recog
nised her. Unsurprising, since she was still wearing her helmet. She tugged it off and cleared her throat. “Um...I’m not dead.”
The herald’s head jerked in her direction. “You? What...?” He spun back to Jemeryl. “No! It’s not fair. How did you do it?” His voice broke into to a shout of outrage. “You used the talisman.”
“I didn’t. And it doesn’t work like that. If I’d used the talisman then you wouldn’t have known—”
Mavek was not listening. “You give that crap about the talisman not being safe. You used it. You changed time to get her back.”
“No, I—”
“Not safe? You just want to keep it for yourself.”
“It isn’t safe. And if it ruptures it will kill thousands of people.”
“Like you care.”
“I do care.”
“You didn’t care about me.” Tears glittered in his eyes. “No one has ever cared about me, apart from Kenan. She loved me. I love her.”
“Mavek, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t say that!” He was screaming. “I’m going to get the talisman. You’re surrounded, and I have you outnumbered. You can’t beat us all. If you don’t surrender, I’ll destroy the town and kill everyone here, and prise the talisman from your dead fingers. I’m going to get it and you can’t stop me.”
Tevi had been listening with increasing concern. “There’s no need to attack the town. The people here are innocent.”
“So was Kenan.” He flung an accusatory finger towards Jemeryl. “She says that she cares about other people. We’ll see how much she cares when my troops are hacking their way through the poor townsfolk of Uzhenek. I swear, nobody will get out of here alive.”
Tevi was appalled. “Mavek. What’s happened to you? You weren’t like this in Tirakhalod.”
“She happened to me. But it doesn’t matter what I do. Because once I get the talisman, I can change things so that none of it even takes place.” He turned back to Jemeryl, advancing so that his face was mere inches from hers. “If I don’t get the talisman, then all the people I kill will stay dead, and it will all be your fault.”
The Empress and the Acolyte Page 28