“Keeper,” said Gavin. “You look…” He frowned. “I’m not sure what the right word is.”
Calliande laughed. “Should I be concerned?”
“You look like…well, the Keeper, but prettier,” said Gavin. He grimaced. “That didn’t come out right. I’m not very good at that kind of thing. Some of the knights from Cintarra could probably make up a poem on the spot.”
“Well,” said Calliande, “I have more use for a strong sword arm than for poetry, and thankfully you have a strong sword arm. Come. The others will be gathering for the council of war.”
They walked through the tents of the Licinii camp, and Calliande spotted Ridmark talking with Constantine and Sir Joram. He had bathed and shaved, though he still wore his usual clothes and gray cloak and blue dark elven armor. His eyes met hers, and something seemed to flicker in his gaze as he did.
He liked looking at her, and Calliande felt a flush of pleasure at the thought.
“My lady Keeper,” said Constantine with a bow.
“Sir Constantine,” said Calliande. “Sir Joram.”
“Shall we go?” said Ridmark, stepping to her side. He offered her his arm.
Calliande smiled. “Yes.” She threaded his arm through his, and together they walked to Arandar’s camp and the council of war.
###
The squires had lit a bonfire as night fell, and by its light Ridmark saw that the loyalist nobility had gathered.
They had all come. Arandar stood at the head, with the Comites and knights sworn directly to Tarlion, and the Masters of the Two Orders stood with the Prince Regent. Ridmark spotted Prince Cadwall with his own contingent of knights and nobles, and Dux Sebastian, Dux Gareth, Dux Leogrance, Dux Kors, and the three kings of the baptized orcish kingdoms of Rhaluusk, Khaluusk, and Mhorluusk. Old Crowlacht stood with King Ulakhamar of Rhaluusk, and the orcish headman gave Ridmark and the others a nod as they passed.
He escorted Calliande to Arandar’s side, and together they bowed to the Prince Regent, Calliande gripping the side of her skirt as she did so.
“My friends,” said Arandar. “Thank you for coming. As you all have learned by now, the Keeper of Andomhaim has returned to our host. Before we marched from Castra Carhaine, the Keeper departed to gather allies against the Frostborn from the manetaurs of the Range and the dwarves of Khald Tormen. I am pleased to announce that the Keeper has been successful in her mission but better to hear it in her own words. My lady Keeper?”
Calliande gave Ridmark a quick smile, and then she took on the mien of the Keeper. Ridmark listened as she gave the gathered kings and lords and knights a brief account of their travels to the Three Kingdoms and the Range, telling how the shadow of Incariel had infected even the manetaurs, and how the Weaver had crept into Khald Tormen to assassinate her and kill King Axazamar and his court.
“Already they march to aid the Anathgrimm in the Northerland, my lords,” said Calliande, her voice ringing over the assembly. “The bold Anathgrimm of Queen Mara and the valiant defenders of Castra Marcaine have held back the Frostborn as we dealt with the false king and his so-called Enlightened, but now the Anathgrimm need not fight alone. That is why we must make haste. The Anathgrimm and the dwarves and the manetaurs are fighting for the defense of our world from the Frostborn. Their valor has given us the time we need to crush Tarrabus and his cult and return a true High King to the throne of Andomhaim.”
She bowed to Arandar and stepped back.
“This is splendid news,” said Dux Kors. “If the dog Tarrabus had not betrayed us at Dun Calpurnia, we might have been able to chase the Frostborn back to their world gate a year past. The sooner we can march to the aid of our new allies, the better.”
“Will they be able to aid us against Tarrabus?” said one of Prince Cadwall’s knights. “With the combined might of the dwarves and the manetaurs, we could crush the usurper with ease.”
“They will not, my lord,” said Calliande. “Both Red King Turcontar and King Axazamar were adamant that they would not take sides in our civil war. Tarrabus is our enemy to defeat, for good or for ill.”
“On that matter,” said Arandar, “we must turn our attention to defeating Tarrabus and lifting the siege of Tarlion. We cannot aid our allies until we have broken the siege and reunited the realm.”
“Tarrabus may be laying siege to Tarlion,” said Leogrance, “but we, in turn, have laid siege to him. Based on the news we received today, he cannot last much longer.”
“He cannot,” said Arandar. “We have been fortunate to have a spy within Tarrabus’s camp.” Ridmark glanced at Third, who stood motionless with Kharlacht and Caius. To his surprise, she winked at him. The months away from Nightmane Forest had been loosening her icy demeanor. “The spy reports that Tarrabus has at most two weeks of food left within his camp, and that is at half rations. Before too much longer his men will start starving, and Tarrabus will do something desperate.”
“Then we need only wait and the day will be ours,” said Prince Cadwall. “If Tarrabus acts rashly, we can defeat him. Or his men might mutiny and join us. We know that the commoners sworn to Tarrabus have little love for him or his demon god. Their loyalty to him is based on fear. If he loses the ability to feed them, he loses his ability to frighten them into obedience. There are few masters as stern as a man’s own stomach.”
“All that you say is true,” said Arandar, “but our spy has learned something else. Tarlion is down to its last five or six days of food, perhaps less. Sir Corbanic has held out against overwhelming odds for the last year, and my father left Tarlion well-provisioned for a siege. But now those provisions are at an end. Tarrabus plans to wait until Tarlion’s food runs out, and then to attack the city with a single massive assault.”
Dux Kors scowled behind his bristling gray beard. “Then won’t Tarrabus starve within the walls of Tarlion?”
“The fleets of Dux Verus of Tarras and Dux Timon of Arduran will be able to resupply him,” said Leogrance. “With respect to Prince Cadwall, Arduran and Tarras have twice as many warships as we do. We will not be able to blockade the harbor of Tarlion if Tarrabus takes the city.”
“There is another danger,” said old Kurastus, the Master of the Order of the Magistri. “The wards and healing magic of the Magistri have been of great use against the dark powers of the Enlightened. If Tarrabus takes Tarlion, he may attempt to enter the Tower of the Moon in the Citadel and tamper with the spells upon the Well. If he does that, we may lose our access to the magic of the Well, and we would suffer a severe disadvantage in the battles to come.”
“If Tarrabus takes Tarlion, the civil war will drag on for years,” said Leogrance.
“We do not have years,” said Gareth. “The Frostborn have already overrun most of the Northerland, and they will not have been idle while we fought Tarrabus. If we do not turn and face them as soon as possible, the Frostborn might come to conquer us even as we battle below the walls of Tarlion.”
A rumble of discussion rose up from the knights and lords.
“My lords!” said Calliande. “It is possible I might be able to do something to swing the battle to our advantage.”
Silence fell as she spoke.
“Some spell of magic, my lady?” said Sir Tagrimn, eyes narrowed. The nobles of Andomhaim remained ever wary of magic, even that wielded by the Magistri and the Keeper. Perhaps that was just as well. Those nobles who were not wary of magic were likely part of the Enlightened by now.
“Aye, Sir Tagrimn,” said Calliande. “My lords, you will recall that at Dun Calpurnia, I worked a spell of elemental fire to protect you from the freezing touch of the revenants.”
“It was of great value,” said Leogrance. “Without that spell, many men would have perished in the first shock of the battle.”
“That was a spell of elemental fire,” said Calliande. “The magic of the Keeper can also control the power of elemental earth. My lords, the earthwork walls that you and Tarrabus have raised are wrought of the earth, an
d elemental magic can govern them.”
“I assume that you are saying,” said Arandar, “that you can work a spell to affect the walls?”
“I can, Prince Regent,” said Calliande. “With sufficient time, I can cast a spell that will level a breach in your wall, the contravallation wall, and the circumvallation wall at the same time.”
Silence answered her.
Dux Kors broke the silence first with a rough laugh. “I’ve been at a few sieges where that would have been useful.”
“Would there be an…explosion, then?” said Dux Sebastian.
“No,” said Calliande. “The spell would open a breach in all three walls simultaneously. About fifty to seventy yards wide, I think. The earth would be drawn back into the soil. There would be a small earthquake as a natural consequence, but not severe enough to cause any damage to Tarlion.”
“Would Tarrabus be able to detect you and stop it?” said Dux Leogrance.
“I very much doubt it, my lords,” said Master Kurastus. “The powers of the Enlightened make them strong and fierce in battle, or give them the ability to command shadows, but not to work magic like this. Tarrabus would not be able to stop the Keeper’s spell, not unless he breached our siege wall and attacked her directly with weapons of steel.”
Old King Ulakhamar cleared his throat and spat. “If we were ready, we could storm the breach at once and take Tarrabus and his traitorous dogs unawares. We could split his host in half and break their spirit. If we cut down Tarrabus himself, the battle would be over in short order.”
“It is a grave risk,” said Leogrance.
“It is,” said Arandar, “but every day we tarry here, the Frostborn grow all the stronger. My lady Keeper, how long would it take to prepare the spell?”
“A day,” said Calliande. “Perhaps eight or nine hours.”
“You shall have all the assistance you require, Keeper,” said Kurastus.
“If we can end the siege,” said Arandar, “it will be worth the risk.”
“Lord Prince,” said Ridmark. “There is something else we can do to aid our victory.”
“What is that, Lord Ridmark?” said Arandar.
“We can arrange for Sir Corbanic to attack from the gate of Tarlion the minute the Keeper breaches the siege walls,” said Ridmark.
Dux Kors laughed. “A fine idea, but we have no way to communicate with the Constable.”
“We do,” said Ridmark.
He felt Calliande’s eyes on him, saw her frown.
“How?” said Arandar.
“On our way here from Khald Tormen,” said Ridmark, “we met a boatman of my acquaintance, a man called Smiling Otto.” A groan came from some of the knights. Evidently, they had made Otto’s acquaintance. “In his flotilla, he has several smaller boats designed for sneaking into harbors at night. I will use one of those boats to sneak into Tarlion’s harbor, warn Sir Corbanic of our plans, and then to return to our camp.”
“That is a very bold plan, Lord Ridmark,” said Arandar.
“Not necessarily,” said Prince Cadwall, intrigued. “The ships light their running lanterns at night, but only so they don’t run into each other by accident. Neither my ships nor those of Dux Verus and Dux Timon have moved for weeks. The light of the Tower of the Moon would provide some illumination, but not enough for a clear view of the harbor. If this Smiling Otto of yours is careful…yes, I believe that it could be done. A man could smuggle himself into Tarlion and out again if he were quick and careful.”
“Very well,” said Arandar. “If you volunteer to undertake this task, Lord Ridmark, I will not gainsay it.”
“Dux Gareth is correct,” said Ridmark. “Every day we tarry, the Frostborn grow stronger, and the Anathgrimm and the dwarves and the manetaurs must face them without aid. The sooner we can defeat Tarrabus and come to their assistance, the better.”
“Agreed,” said Arandar. “My lords and knights, if there are no objections, we shall begin preparations for our assault tomorrow.”
Chapter 12: Hunger
“Ridmark,” said Calliande.
Around her the assembly of lords and knights had broken up, each man going about his tasks. Tomorrow morning at sunrise, Calliande would begin the great spell to tear breaches into the siege walls and pave the way for the attack. Early in the afternoon, if all went well, she could tear open the walls and the assault would begin. Arandar and his men would have to be ready by then. Likely he would send the orcish warriors in first, or perhaps the Swordbearers.
“Aye?” said Ridmark.
“Let me talk to you a moment,” she said. “Alone, please.”
“Of course,” said Ridmark.
Calliande looked at Antenora and Gavin, who as ever remained close to her. “If you don’t mind, make sure we’re not disturbed for a moment.”
“As you wish, Keeper,” said Antenora.
Calliande led Ridmark away from the bonfires and towards one of the tents used by the blacksmiths who repaired the host’s weapons and armor. The fire of the brick forge was banked, sullen heat radiating into the night. Calliande glanced into the pavilion, saw it was empty, and beckoned for Ridmark to follow her as Gavin and Antenora waited by the forge. The pavilion held three tables, all of them sagging beneath the weight of arms and armor in need of repair.
“What’s wrong?” said Ridmark.
Calliande frowned. “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?” said Ridmark.
“Sneaking into Tarlion alone,” said Calliande.
“I won’t go alone,” said Ridmark. “If I ask Third she will come with me. As she said, she has more experience than I do of sneaking into places where she is not welcome.”
“That’s not what I mean,” said Calliande. “Why are you doing this?”
Ridmark shrugged. “Because it’s necessary. You and Dux Gareth are right. Every day we delay the Frostborn get stronger. The sooner we can march, the better chance we have. For that matter, we don’t know what the spell is that Third saw in Tarrabus’s camp. If we can disrupt that, all the better.”
“That’s still not what I mean,” said Calliande. “Why are you taking the risk?”
“Because someone must,” said Ridmark. “If Sir Corbanic attacks from the walls as Arandar attacks, we will have a far greater chance of victory. And it’s not that much of a risk. Otto knows what he’s doing.”
“And that is still not what I mean,” said Calliande. “Why are you, Ridmark Arban, taking this risk?”
He gave her a puzzled look. “I don’t know what you mean. Perhaps you had better explain it.”
“I…” Calliande took a moment to collect her thoughts.
Why was she so upset? Ridmark’s plan was a good one. His logic rang true. The plan put him at risk, yes, but no matter what he did he would be at risk, along with tens of thousands of other men.
Then she understood.
“Are you trying to kill yourself?” she said.
“No,” said Ridmark.
“Because you have done that kind of thing before,” said Calliande, taking a deep breath. “You’d take some insane risk because you thought you deserved to die because…”
“Because of Aelia and Morigna,” said Ridmark in a quiet voice.
“Yes,” said Calliande, watching his face. “That may be presumptuous of me…”
“Perhaps,” said Ridmark. “But have given you many reasons to think that in the past. Why should you not make that assumption now?”
“So…are you?” said Calliande. “Are you doing this to kill Tarrabus, whatever happens to you? Or to get yourself killed?”
“No,” said Ridmark. “I’m doing this because it will increase our chances of victory. I also think I have a reasonable chance of coming back. At least as reasonable of a chance as a man can expect when he goes into battle.” He shrugged again. “I did it once already.”
“Did what already?” said Calliande.
“Get myself killed,” said Ridmark. “Khald Torme
n. I don’t remember all of it clearly…but I do remember that I knew I was going to die. I thought it was worth it, because…”
“Because you would take the Weaver with you into the molten stone,” said Calliande, “and would avenge Morigna?”
“Yes,” said Ridmark. “But that wasn’t the reason I did it.”
“Then what was the reason?” said Calliande.
To her surprise, he smiled a little. “Isn’t it obvious? I did it to save you.”
Her heart sped up. “There were hundreds of people in the Stone Heart. You saved them all.”
“They were in the right place at the right time,” said Ridmark.
Calliande laughed. “I doubt that they would agree.”
“I knew I was going to die, but it would save you, so I didn’t care,” said Ridmark.
She said nothing. Her eyes were stinging a little.
“I’m not trying to get myself killed,” said Ridmark. “I don’t want to get killed.”
“Why not?” said Calliande. “You’ve had something of a death wish for almost the entire time that I’ve known you.”
“I don’t want to get killed because I want to come back to you,” said Ridmark.
“Oh,” said Calliande. Her voice quavered a little. “Oh. I see. Yes. That’s good. I’m glad to hear that.”
He snorted. “You still don’t believe me.”
Calliande raised her eyebrows. “What can you do to convince me?”
He crossed the distance between them, pulled her close, and kissed her. Calliande just had time to prop the staff of the Keeper against a nearby table, then she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back. Her heart sped up further, warmth spreading through her chest and into the rest of her body. They were alone. Antenora and Gavin would keep anyone from disturbing them.
“Ridmark,” whispered Calliande when they broke apart, both of them breathing hard. “I don’t want to wait anymore. I want you to take…”
Frostborn: Excalibur (Frostborn #13) Page 16