Paki lifted off, rising into the air with strong, heavy strokes of her wings. She too waited only until they were level with the top of the rim before opening a Slide. Taela barely noticed the tug as they were pulled into it. In seconds, they came out over a wide expanse of smooth, freshly fallen snow. Below, the armies of Kanther and Boromar were a little less than a half mile from each other.
A few tiny white flakes drifted on the icy air around Taela, made colder by the altitude and the falling night. Only the Boromari and the Kantherian were crazy enough to wage war in the snows of winter. They were camped down at the moment. But the supply wagons didn’t swap wheels in favor of skids for no reason.
“They will engage soon,” Paki sent.
“Most likely,” Taela returned. She sensed the combined intentions of both armies. As soon as the storm was over they would pick up where they left off. Or maybe they wouldn’t even wait for that.
“Should we stop it?”
“Without an order from their king, the Kantherians will only go back to it the minute we leave,” Taela returned.
Amariel leaned closer to Taela. “Have you ever seen the Boromari fight?”
Taela looked over her shoulder at the older woman. “No, I haven’t.”
“I have. It will be most interesting.”
“What do you think?” Taela sent to Paki
Paki’s mental shrug was clear in the return, “It might be good to understand how they fight.”
The dragon settled into a slow circle over the battle.
Despite the gathering darkness, Taela had no trouble seeing the armies below. The archers on the Boromari side shed their long, heavy coats and crept low against the snow past the pickets on their side. At least seventy strong, they ignored the cold as they prepared to be the front line of attack until the armies came together in close combat. Without the superior eyesight of the dragon bond, she would never have been able to see them as they progressed with the silent stealth of hunting cats.
Behind them, the low tents came down in the camp, though several fires and tents were left near the rear. Why didn’t they take those down? The supply wagons were being maneuvered at the back in preparation of either retreat or advance. As she watched, fascinated by the unfolding scene, the Boromari archers reached striking distance under the cover of darkness.
However, they didn’t stand and draw. Instead, they spread out and continued to move in deadly silence toward the pickets of the enemy. Within moments, the Kantherian picket line went down in silence, their throats cut.
Unaware of their sentries’ demise, the Kantherians too were preparing. In watching the unfolding battle below, it was clear this newest campaign against the Boromari, so close on the heels of their last war, had cost the Kantherians dearly.
While the Boromari arranged themselves in near silence with the precision of a well-made clock, the Kantherians were disorganized, with orders being shouted and men and women scrambling.
An owl hooted somewhere in the night. The second and third lines of archers, with shield bearers in front, moved forward from the Boromari army. The cavalry and foot soldiers prepared behind them with horses to either side at an angle and the infantry in the middle in a blunt-tipped wedge.
The second and third lines of archers crept forward until they were halfway between the first line and the army at their back. Puzzled, Taela watched as they all laid back in the deep snow, shields and archers alike, bows held to protect the strings from getting damp.
The first line of Boromari archers regrouped just as silently as before. They nocked arrows, raised their bows, drew the strings back, and as one, released. The strings of the well-tuned and maintained longbows of the Boromari made only the faintest twang. From where she glided with Paki, invisible to those on the ground against the night and the dark clouds, she could hear the night arrows as they cut through the air with the quiet whoosh of falling rain.
Unexpected and unseen, the arrows fell into the unprepared Kantherian camp. Many found a mark and many more didn’t. It didn’t matter. The chaos created by the arrows was enough to demonstrate that.
As screams of the injured rang out and more shouted orders filled the night, the first line of archers loosed another hail of arrows just as the Kantherians formed ranks and shields went up. The loud thwacks of arrows punching into shields and other objects announced those that had been intercepted, and new screams announced those that had found a target.
More fire lit up the night in the Kantherian camp as fire arrows were lifted and released in the direction of the Boromari. Though there was nothing in the field that would catch due to the blanket of snow, and the Boromari camp was out of bow range, the missiles sailed over what would soon be the battlefield. Their flickering light offered a brief and vague glimpse of the battle to come. However, from where the Kantherians were on the ground, they would have no way of seeing the shields or the other two lines of archers lying in the snow.
The first line of Boromari archers let loose a final volley of arrows before breaking into two groups. Under the cover of darkness, each group moved with purpose and agility in opposite directions.
A nightbird called. Taela looked in the direction of the sound. She sensed Amariel doing the same. Even her enhanced eyesight couldn’t locate where the sound came from.
The line of shields leaped up and surged forward with the second and third line of archers behind them. As the Kantherians charged toward the field another nightbird called. The shields dropped and the second line released a volley of arrows. They dropped to one knee and the third line loosed.
Men and horses in the Kantherian charge went down. The shields went up, overlapping each other and intercepting the return arrows. Many of the Kantherian arrows had been sent from too great a distance and merely bounced off the shields. A ball of fire released from the trebuchet in the Kantherian camp sailed over the heads of those charging and plowed through the lines of archers and their shields.
The Boromari archers held as if they hadn’t seen the fireball or their comrades who died as they nocked and let loose two more volleys of arrows. They weren’t aiming for the enemy soldiers that much became clear quite quickly. The screams of horses as they fell into the snow ripped through the night as the animals went down under the onslaught aimed directly at them. Another flaming ball lit up the battlefield, but this time the lines of archers were already breaking in organized retreat as the charge now came too close for them. Each line fell back and to the sides as the Boromari foot soldiers rushed forward.
The field below erupted into shouts, screams, and the clang of weapons as the two armies came together.
The first line of Boromari archers hadn’t simply faded into the night to wait out the battle. Moving faster through the snow than Taela would have thought possible, they had slipped well to either side of the battle and circled around behind the Kantherian army.
Unaware of the threat from behind, the Kantherians surged forward. A horn sounded above the din of battle, and the archers raised their bows and sent arrows into the undefended backs of their enemies, taking down both foot soldiers and horses
In the front of the battle, the Boromari line appeared to break, ragged gaps opening along the line. The Kantherians rushed through the openings, charging toward the backlines and the tents that looked like a camp.
Just as soon as they took the openings in the Boromari line, the breaks closed, cutting the Kantherian army off from each other. Taela watched the ploy in amazement as another horn sounded and the cavalry curved in from the sides.
The first line of archers again released arrows into the backs of the Kantherians. In the darkness that deepened with each passing moment, the attack from behind served to decrease the numbers of Kantherians and created chaos at the same time.
Cut off from each other and beset from all sides, the Kantherians broke. The Boromari, however, allowed no retreat. A second wave of cavalry moved in cutting down enemies whether they threw down their weapons, r
an, or tried to stand and fight. Those that ran were met in the front by the first line of archers. Some of the arrows found friendly marks, however, it appeared to be an acceptable risk to the Boromari.
“Kanther should know better than to go to war with Boromar again,” Amariel said.
The victors swept into the Kantherian camp killing everyone. This battle had gone to the Boromari. The swiftness of it took Taela’s breath away. No wonder Haraban had lost their bid to extend their borders toward Boromar seventy-five years ago. Markene too had tried that four times over the past five hundred years and only won once—the first time. This was the reason Haraban and Markene now left Boromar alone. Kanther seemed unable to learn from their defeats.
“It is time we head to Benddier and speak with the King of Kanther. This war must stop because Fates know we have a bigger one on our hands,” Taela sent.
“An interesting battle to watch. However, you’re correct, this must end.” Paki banked in the air and flew south.
Maleena placed the babe in Grandme’s arms. “Meet Emmaleen, your great-granddaughter.”
Grandme’s lined face folded into a full smile and tears glistened in her eyes. “She’s beautiful.”
At nearly three months, Emmaleen had lost the scrunched look of a newborn, and Maleena had to admit her daughter truly was a gorgeous baby. Grandme cuddled the baby close for a moment before handing her to Barden.
Mckale’s father cradled his granddaughter in his arms, a broad smile on his face and pride in his gray eyes. “She reminds me of Sonja at this age.” Emmaleen yawned, and her little eyes opened. Barden gazed down at the violet eyes. “I can certainly see her mother in her though.”
Maleena settled into a chair as Sonja happily took Emmaleen and cooed at her, while Yaden watched his new wife with a wistful expression and Kaden impatiently looked on. It felt good to be surrounded by Mckale’s family. Seeing the affection showered on her daughter made the future easier to think about.
Between Emmaleen’s family in Calladar, and her extended family in Galdrilene, her daughter wouldn’t lack for love and support. Only her mother would be missing from her life and as sad as that was, it could be easily dealt with. After all, she’d grown up without her mother. Maleena searched her memory for a picture of her own mother but only vague impressions could be found. There was no clear picture. She didn’t even remember her mother’s face.
A small pang of sadness twisted Maleena’s heart. Her own grandmother would have loved Emmaleen. The almost four years since her grandmother’s death was such a short time, yet endless when the chasm of death and birth separated the years. Perhaps, when the time came, she would be able to see her grandmother in Maiadar and tell her of her granddaughter.
Mckale’s large hand took her small one, his silver eyes worried when he leaned close and whispered, “Why do I sense so much sadness through our bond? Taela was able to get the finished weave that will end the Shadow Riders, more eggs have hatched, and our daughter is healthy and surrounded by people who love her. Shouldn’t this be a happy time?”
Maleena shoved the emotions back and smiled at him. “It is a happy a moment. However, I can’t help but feel sadness for what lies ahead. The weave can only be used when the Shadow Riders all come at us at once. There will be so much destruction between now and then.”
How easily the lies rolled off her tongue now. It was supposed to be hard to keep something from a bondmate without them knowing, and yet she had mastered the skill within moments of her discovery of what the future held. Guilt rode her shoulders like a heavy weight. Even so, it couldn’t change her mind. One day, he would understand why the future needed to be kept from him. And hopefully he would forgive her as well as Taela and Kellinar.
He brushed a strand of hair that had escaped her braid away from her face. “We will make it through and help rebuild everything afterward.”
Visions of a bloodied battlefield and the stench it carried flashed in her mind. Of the people she had killed. It made her even more wary of the coming battles.
“How long will you be staying?” Grandme asked as Kaden finally claimed his niece.
“Long enough for the ball the Council insists on having no matter how many times it’s been put off,” Mckale answered.
Maleena groaned inwardly. Why wouldn’t they let that go? There were far more important things to worry about in Calladar besides a ball—like Shadow Riders and whoever had shot Mckale. The Council of Seven thought they’d found the perpetrator, but Maleena doubted the man had acted on his own. It was far too convenient that he was dead so he couldn’t be questioned.
Mckale squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile before turning back to Grandme. “I will spend my time divided between here and Galdrilene as will Maleena. I will Slide back daily for short periods to help deal with things there, and Maleena will join me every other day.”
Grandme frowned. “What about Emmaleen?”
“She will Slide back and forth with us.”
“You can’t drag a baby back and forth like that, especially at this time of year. You will leave her with me when you both need to Slide back,” Grandme said, her tone final.
Maleena shook her head. How could she leave her daughter behind? Grandme waggled her finger as if she’d read Maleena’s thoughts. “She will be fine with me. I raised Barden and then his children after Nia died. Emmaleen will be perfectly safe, and you can Slide back at a moment’s notice.”
“I…don’t know.” Maleena didn’t want to insult the woman but wasn’t comfortable being so far away from Emmaleen.
“What will you do if there is a battle here?” Grandme said.
“Slide her back to Galdrilene and leave her in the care of Marda.”
“So this Marda can do a better job than me?”
Maleena smoothed a wrinkle in her pants. “No, but she will be safer in Galdrilene with Marda than she would be here during a battle.”
“I’m not denying that. However, if you can leave her there and come back here to face a battle, then you can leave her here when there is no battle.” Grandme gave a sharp nod as if that settled everything.
Maleena sighed. “All right, if there appears to be no danger here and we won’t be gone long, I will leave her with you.”
Grandme took Emmaleen back and cradled her close. “Of course you will. Besides, with the snow piled up, no armies will be moving. Even Kojen raids drop to nothing in the winters up here. I doubt Shadow Riders are going to want to fly in this cold either.”
Mckale shook his head, and Maleena read his thoughts about not being able to win when it came to Grandme. She had to admit, he was right. The old woman was stubborn and determined.
“What news is there of Calladar?” Mckale asked, his question directed at his father and brother.
“Things have been quiet these past few months,” Barden said with a wary sort of relief in his expression. “Only minor attacks by Shadow Dragons and Kojen along the border through the fall. The weapons masters sent from Galdrilene have been hard at work directing the building of the launchers. The well-crafted plans they brought with them have been invaluable. The first one was just completed yesterday, the other should be soon. The Border Guards are learning to aim the thing now.”
The launcher, a weapon retrieved from the War of Fire, resembled a giant slingshot with weights to increase the speed of release. Loaded with a cross between a large spear and an arrow, the three foot barbed tip had a weave worked into it by Earth mages. It would easily penetrate the breastplates of a Shadow Dragon’s scales. Learning to aim and release at a moving target was not an easy task. Maleena didn’t envy the men who would fire the weapons. Lives of the innocent would ride on their ability to learn it well.
“They are using practice bolts now are they not?” Nydara sent. “If so, Tellnox and I will be more than happy to provide them with flying targets to work with.”
Maleena looked at Barden. “Nydara wants to know if they are using practice bolts in
the launcher.”
“Of course, they have no wish to damage the tips made by the mages, nor do they wish to see anyone harmed in a misfire while they learn. Why?”
“Nydara and Tellnox have offered themselves as target practice for the men.”
Barden’s eyes widened, a look of horror in them. “We can’t shoot at them.”
“Your men can’t learn to hit a flying target if they don’t have one to aim at.” Maleena smiled gently to ease his fears. “I assure you, the wooden-tipped practice bolts haven’t a hope of harming the dragons.”
Kaden’s face was pensive for a moment before he nodded. “That would actually be quite helpful if they truly don’t mind.”
“They wouldn’t have offered if they minded,” Mckale assured him.
“I suppose that settles one issue.” Barden’s brows drew down and it was clear to Maleena he didn’t like the idea at all.
“There is more than one issue?” Mckale glanced between his father and brother. “What else has happened?”
Barden let out a long sigh and rubbed a hand over his face. “Young people are disappearing. It’s happened often enough that I have forbidden Sonja from going anywhere alone. Station doesn’t seem to matter either. The latest disappearance was the daughter of one of the Council members. She is only fourteen years of age.”
Maleena glanced at Emmaleen, her chest constricting at the thought of losing her daughter. She wouldn’t wish the loss of a child on anyone. Especially since she had a good idea where that child had gone. “You still have a traitor in your midst. One who was willing to kill Mckale. One who is willing to funnel new servants to the Kormai.”
Sonja gasped. “The Kormai?”
“Servants in the Kormai are often killed, a steady flow of new are needed.” Mckale’s voice was devoid of emotion though Maleena felt the anger rolling off him. “We need to find who is siding with the Shadow Riders.”
“The ball will have many in attendance,” Maleena said. “It will be a good place to start. I will search while we are there.”
Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) Page 14