Arrows of Revolution (Kingmakers Book 3)

by Honor Raconteur

  The enemy reacted immediately, gravitating to any point that had a flicker. They did not move far, as Gerrard started on the barrier just north of their main encampment. It was also, naturally, the spot that saw the most action as the soldiers pounded away at it. Gerrard might have chosen to start there for that reason, or perhaps he wanted to make sure he caught their attention by keeping it visible for them, but either way, it worked.

  In fact, it worked a little too well. The citizens also took note of this new development and an outcry of panic hit the streets. It took Ashlynn and Broden issuing orders to all the guardsmen to quietly assure them that it was all fine, just another tactic to confuse their enemy, for the worst of the clamor to die down. Not that it stopped completely, as it took a while for the word to spread, but the worst of it did. Broden harbored a suspicion that some were convinced it really was a problem and the government officials just would not own up to it, but there was nothing to be done about the paranoid ones. Time would show them the truth. As long as they did not make too much of a fuss, Broden let them stay paranoid.

  Seth, bless him, had pulled together twenty wagons and fourteen horses. Each wagon had two men on it, a driver and guardsman, some of them volunteers. They met behind Dahl’s physical wall, out of sight, and waited for the cover of darkness. Broden spent his time on the top of the wall, watching the magical one with a keen eye. “Gerrard’s playing this well.”

  Ashlynn, sitting on the ground below him, cocked her head around to ask, “It’s working?”

  “Oh, aye, no doubt of that. They be moving steadily north without seeming to realize it. Gerrard’s throwing in just enough flickers toward the south as to make it seem a natural fault in the middle of the line.”

  “Master’s good at this,” she agreed without a trace of doubt in her voice. Then again, she knew from experience that her master had the right feel for the timing necessary. “How many guards are still with the prisoners?”

  “A dozen, mayhap? A few be resting inside tents, so I can no’ get a proper headcount.”

  Ashlynn panned her immediate area, checking her own people, and nodded. She did not need to say another word. Broden knew that they did not quite have enough manpower to deal with possibly twenty guards, and it would rest on the two of them to make up for the lack of fighting power. Broden had been up against worse odds. They would make it through fine.

  Assuming, of course, that the Iyshian army stayed focused on the wall and not on their backsides.

  It was dusk, nearing twilight, that Gerrard proved he might have grown older but the daredevil in him was still as young as ever. Instead of just a patchiness, there was an outright fault straight down the middle, lasting a full five seconds, enough so that one soldier actually managed to get through. The whole army, frustrated and tired of beating themselves against something immovable, roared with renewed energy and threw themselves forward.

  Broden hissed out an unbelieving breath. “Cutting it fine, is he no’?”

  “And you wonder where I get my recklessness from,” Ashlynn responded with a dark chuckle. She sat on the wall with him now, out of sight behind one of the guard turrets, so that she could keep her own eye on the situation. “Look at them move. We have a skeletal guard around the prisoners now.”

  So they did, a bare dozen. They were a good distance away, as well, barely within sight of their prisoners even on this flat land. If they were going to move, now would be the time to do it.

  Their feeling was so unanimous that both of them moved at the same time. Broden mounted his horse and led off, not waiting for the rest to mount up first. They were all so tired of waiting that most were eager to get this over with, instantly climbing aboard.

  Broden focused on getting free of the barrier, keeping an eagle eye on the encampment to make sure that no one was looking their direction. They were not—their attention remained riveted toward the “fluctuating” wall. He could not see the barrier well from this angle, nor did he try to, as the shouts of the army painted a clear enough picture.

  Gerrard was letting men leak through, but only a few, no more than a handful, and then of course there were Estolian guardsmen waiting on the other side to handily deal with them. The Iyshian army was torn—they wanted to get through, but dodging inside a few at a time was suicidal. They did not want brief breaks in the wall, they wanted it completely down; and since they could not decide what to do, they hovered and cursed instead.

  Which was hardly effective behavior, but who could blame them?

  Either way it was a fine drama to keep a man entertained by, and the rescue party took full advantage of it by riding recklessly forward at the fastest clip they could manage with the wagons in tow. The distracted attention of the guards was such that the Estolians were nearly on top of them before they realized that they were in trouble. It was more than close enough for Ashlynn to throw up a barrier around them, blocking them from running forward. Their shouts for help could not possibly be heard over the bedlam near the barrier, even though all of them tried.

  Broden rode mercilessly forward, using his knees and heels to guide the horse even as his fingers went for his arrows. A quick nock and draw, aiming for anyone he had a good line of sight on.

  Ashlynn quickly bust open the manacles on the prisoners’ hands and feet, urging them up and into a guard’s hands. They acted like a relay system, any guard not fighting grabbing people bodily and shoving them either in the wagon or on a horse, depending on their fitness to ride.

  In no way did Broden think they would get out of here scot-free before someone else noticed. In fact, the prisoners’ guards were down, and they still had ten people left to move when someone in the back of the army turned around. That signaled their undoing as the cry of alarm went up.

  Ashlynn swore, realizing in the same moment as Broden what would happen next, and bellowed, “MOVE THEM NOW!”

  Any guardsman still there grabbed the nearest person to them, slinging them like a sack of potatoes over their shoulder, and then ran for a wagon. The wagons were already starting to move, gaining speed, sometimes with a person barely on board. Broden grabbed a person himself, an elderly woman that was protesting something—he did not care what she was saying and did not have the time to stop and listen—before throwing her over his horse’s saddle, mounting up, and riding hard for the barrier. She bounced around something terrible, and likely would have bruises to show for it, but he could not take the time to seat her properly.

  There was one facet to this rescue that was understood, even though no one would say it aloud. They absolutely could not, under any circumstance, allow Iysh to realize how their barrier worked. Right now the Iyshian soldiers were under the illusion that this was a solid barrier like any other permanent barrier. It would have to be modified or temporarily lowered to allow people through. If they failed to get in under the right timing, then the whole façade fell apart. They would realize that this barrier was of a completely different type, and anyone with magical know-how would realize the weaknesses in a thrice. And that would doom all of Estole and Dahl.

  Broden did not count how many people they left behind, if any. His heart could not take knowing that there were people he had had to abandon. He resolutely looked forward and tracked the enemy soldiers’ movements from the corner of his eye. They were running for all they were worth, but it did not look like they would quite catch up. Broden was near the back and mounted—the pursuers on foot did not stand much of a chance.

  Still, they were closer than he liked, and he focused on getting in as quickly as he could.

  Gerrard must have been watching from somewhere nearby, as he opened up another “hole” in the barrier wall for them to escape through with impeccable timing. It was a mite narrow, but passable enough, and Broden spun through and to the left, clearing the space for anyone following after him but giving himself a chance to see what was going on behind them.

  Iyshian soldiers, red faced and panting from that mad sprint, were nip
ping at their heels. They were still ten feet away, at least, when the last Estolian guardsman pounded through. Gerrard snapped the barrier shut with admirable quickness, and when the first Iyshian soldier reached the barrier, he was immediately shocked back as the magic repelled him.

  There came a general howl of frustration from their pursuers that made Broden’s lips twitch. Aye, a rough night for all involved, but that howling did give him a sense of satisfaction.

  “Let me down!” the old woman in front of him begged.

  Oh, right, she probably was gasping for breath in that position. Broden swung off, a little gingerly as the saddle moved under his weight, and then lifted her as carefully as he could back to the ground.

  She glared up at him, tears in her eyes, as soon as she had her feet back under her. “I do not want to live in Dahl proper.”

  Broden stared at her. Still stubborn, eh? Well, he did not expect to be thanked by this lot. “You be welcome to waltz right back out and be a prisoner again.”

  That made her flinch, although her mouth tightened in a mutinous manner. Broden did not care at this point what she thought or what she did. His duty was done as far as he was concerned. Although it made him a little sick, thinking that he had saved this woman instead of someone else, who honestly regretted their choice and wanted to come back into Dahl. Pushing past her, he went to Ashlynn.

  He hated to ask, but was duty-bound to know, so he forced the words out regardless. “Lass? How many did we leave behind?”

  “Three,” she answered in a tired voice. “None of them would look at me or try to help the guards to leave. It would have been a fight to get them, so we left them. I do feel a little bad about it, but…what can you do with such special snowflakes?”

  Broden grunted agreement. Three people who did not want to leave and would rather stay prisoners he did not have any sympathy for. His heart eased. “Aye. Well, let’s get this lot sorted and go to bed.”

  “The sorting is not our job.” Ashlynn gave him a genuine smile at this. “I have that delegated to someone else. Our job is to return the horses. Then we can go to bed.”

  “Lass,” he marveled, a smile taking over his face, “I knew I liked ye for a reason.”

  “My amazing delegation ability?”

  “Aye, that too.” Broden had his mouth open to ask a question when a strange sensation landed on his exposed face. Looking up, he realized that it was a snowflake, one of many. “It be cold enough to snow?”

  “Apparently.” Ashlynn also turned her face to the sky. “Talk about timing. If we had delayed this operation even one more day, we might have been thwarted. It’s already falling harder by the second.”

  Truly. This might be the first big snow of the winter season. It had been threatening to storm all day but Broden had not realized it was quite cold enough to snow yet. He looked toward the wall, and the Iyshian soldiers camped outside of it. From what he had seen, they were not equipped to camp out in true winter conditions. Those poor sods.

  A tiny voice came from Ashlynn’s throat. “Ashlynn. Are you done yet?”

  Ashlynn lifted the necklace up in front of her nose and glared at it. “Edvard. I am done for the night unless this is an emergency. Emergency defined as your pants being on fire.”

  “It’s more serious than that. Stay on, I’m having trouble getting everyone else on a caller.”

  Broden and Ashlynn shared a muted, frustrated look. It was never good when Edvard issued these emergency meetings of his. Edvard was not one for meetings to begin with, so if he gathered people, it was because he truly needed them.

  They stayed on but delayed just long enough to make sure that everyone was heading in the right directions and things were properly delegated before heading indoors. Ashlynn stopped by the guards’ kitchen and gathered them up a snack of biscuits, jam, and hot cider, which Broden certainly appreciated. They had had a very light dinner while waiting for the sunset and he for one was still hungry. If they were going to be up for some hours yet, then they would need the extra energy.

  Ashlynn commandeered a guard’s bedroom so they had privacy and warmth. It was a narrow space with nothing more than a bed, a chest, and a writing table. Ashlynn took the bed, stretching out and getting her feet up. Broden did not trust himself on a bed—he would fall straight to sleep—so instead took the chair at the desk. Broden managed to cram the last of the biscuit into his mouth just as Ashlynn picked the caller up, demanding, “What now?”

  Edvard responded, “Hold on, I’m not quite sure we’re all here. Tierone?”

  “I’m here, Edvard. Now, tell me that for once you’re calling with good news.”

  “I wish I was. We don’t believe Maddox is with his army.”

  Broden choked on the biscuit still in his mouth. While they’d suspected this…surely not!

  “What?!” Ashlynn wailed. Turning, she pounded Broden on the back helpfully even as she demanded, “We’ve got no sightings of him at all? Troi, are you sure?”

  “I’ve been keeping an eagle eye on the commander’s tent ever since their arrival. I’ve had two spies in place since we got word of the army watching them. We’ve seen no sign of Maddox except his flags.”

  True, neither he nor Ashlynn had seen hide nor hair of him either, but they were not always watching the army. Knocking back the rest of his cider cleared the obstruction in his throat enough that Broden was able to croak, “If the man no’ be with his army, then where did he get himself off to?”

  “Now that is the question, isn’t it?” Tierone more grumbled the words than said them. “The only thing we can think of is, did he choose to come up later? Maybe he came up by sea?”

  Ashlynn gave Broden a wide-eyed look, and they said in near unison, “The ships?”

  One could hear the grimace in Edvard’s voice. “I have no idea. I’m just throwing out possibilities. Have either of you received any word from the pirates?”

  “No, not one,” Ashlynn denied readily. Then she paused and frowned. “Although I’m not sure if they would think to contact us.”

  “If they succeeded, they would,” Broden corrected. “To brag if naught else. Silence means they have nothing to brag about. If he had been on a ship, belike we would have heard something. Troi, have ye heard any word of ships making it to Windcross?”

  “I don’t have any spies over there to report something to me,” Troi denied in frustration. “We have so little manpower, and so many other areas to send them, I was relying on the pirates to tell me if the ships came by.”

  Which made perfect sense and in his shoes, Broden would likely have done the same.

  “They might not be able to, though, if Maddox has seized control over the area,” Edvard pointed out. “Broden. You know that area better than anyone. Can you scout around that area and see if Maddox is trying to come up behind us? It’s unorthodox for him to not do a frontal assault, but he’s obviously not, and I can’t think of what else he’d be trying.”

  All of that was true enough and Broden nodded agreement. “Edvard, I normally be willing to go,” he said hesitantly, “but do ye realize it be snowing outside?”

  There was a pregnant pause. Had they been so wrapped up in the problem that they had failed to realize what was happening? “Heavens, it is,” Edvard said in disbelief. “Well. Scratch that, I can’t send you outside in these conditions.”

  Ashlynn gave the caller a snarky look. “Not that I would have agreed to Broden going by himself.”

  Did not he know it. “If the snow clears, I can take Tant or Seth with me?” he offered, trying to set her mind at ease. “They be decent enough at skulking, even in a forest. Riana taught them a few tricks.”

  While this was not the outcome she had wanted, it was apparently a palpable compromise. “Seth, then,” she agreed a little reluctantly. “But only if it proves to be necessary. We might get word yet before the snow clears enough for you to go.”

  True enough. Broden frankly hoped for that, as he was too tired to go
gallivanting around the country anyway.

  Edvard sounded as if he were well past exhaustion. “Maybe I’m just too tired to think, but I can’t understand what Maddox is doing if he’s not at my borders. I know we talked of sending him north of Ganforth and playing some tricks on him, but he’s completely out of position for half of our plans and he’s not making a move to boot. This goes against all of the intelligence that we have on him. We’re not even sure where he is. What by Macha’s beard is he doing?”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Entering the townhouse, she greeted Mrs. Pennington with a smile as she handed off her gloves, hat, and cloak. “Mrs. Pennington, where is everyone?”

  “The study, Lady Saira.” Pennington had a knowing expression on her face. “It went well, I take it?”

  Riana had come from a formal ladies’ luncheon and now understood the difference between an informal and a formal version. Informal meant less people, to begin with, but formal also meant that one had a certain agenda as well. Mostly the agenda was introducing eligible young women to eligible young men. Riana had flirted and used these introductions blithely to her own ends. In fact, she had learned that flirting might just be the best way for her to spread rumors about. She was, after all, supposedly here to catch a husband. What better way to meet everyone in Court than through her cover story?

  “They bought the story hook, line, and sinker and then threw their own bait into the water. It was marvelous. Best yet, I finally met one of Woelfel’s favorite gossips—Lady McAdaraugh. I feel that she’ll be marvelously useful in the future.”

  “She always is,” Pennington agreed knowingly. “If you’re looking for the men, they’re in the study.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Pennington.” Rubbing her hands together in delight, Riana went for the study, anxious to tell the men of her success.

  She’d barely made the hallway when Ash’s voice floated toward her from the end of it: “I can feel you gloating from here, dearheart!”

  Laughing, she called back, “And for good reason!” With a skip in her step, she rounded the doorway with a flair of skirt and bounced to a stop. “Gentlemen, I return victorious.”