"You think this will work?" I asked.
"I have no idea. I'm still in awe of the skills these people have."
"Thorn is organizing his army on the southern end of the bomb crater-in case the enemy gets past us," I admitted.
"You contacted him?"
"I did. He was less than pleased at first."
"He came around?"
"He did."
"Good." Levi visibly relaxed.
"We've worked with him a long time. I think he remembered that after a few seconds."
Colonel Armon? Wend's mindspeak interrupted my conversation with Levi.
Wend? I'm surprised to hear from you, I replied.
We ah, have a situation, she reported. Merrin, two other rogues and their escorts just showed up outside our walls. We were ready to step to the south end of the bomb crater when they arrived. Merrin is screaming something about traitors and the enemy, but we can't understand what he's saying. He can't get past our shields, either, so there's no way to get close enough to hear him better.
"By the first warrior," I cursed. "Levi, I think we're needed elsewhere. Let me tell Sherra where we're going," I began.
"I will accompany you," Adahi appeared beside us. "Come-time is short. In minutes, you'll begin to hear the rumble of the first vehicles approaching. Perhaps Merrin will make himself useful after all."
I gripped Levi's sleeve as Adahi stepped us to Secondary Camp.
* * *
Secondary Camp
Wend
"I can see he's upset about something," Marc said as he and I stood outside the gate, watching Merrin and four followers from a distance.
Levi, Armon and the one called Adahi appeared near Merrin then, startling the other warriors and their escorts. The warrior who fired a blast against Levi's shield dropped where he stood and didn't move again.
Adahi lowered his arm; I hadn't seen him raise it to begin with, it happened so quickly.
"Let's go," Marc gripped my hand and pulled me toward the outer shield protecting the camp. I ran to keep up with his swift strides.
* * *
Armon
"What the fuck are you talking about?" I shouted at Merrin, who, on his knees, begged us for the third time to listen to him.
"His brain is addled by that foul drug," Adahi turned toward me.
"Does anybody know anything?" I shouted at Merrin, the remaining warrior and both escorts.
"We just came from the enemy convoy," one of the escorts stepped forward timidly. "After Ruarke said they're going to destroy the King's City. Merrin-they promised the King's City to him. Said he'd be King there."
"They lied, as is their habit," Adahi growled. "Tell me, if you know," he continued. "How long is the enemy's convoy?"
"Really long," the other escort answered. "There are three long trucks hauling planes at the back."
"Longer than half a mile?" I demanded.
"I think so," the escort whimpered.
"Bloody hells," Levi cursed. He knew, as did I, that the land bridge was little more than a half-mile long.
"What's going on?" Marc and Wend arrived at the outside edge of the shield covering Secondary Camp.
"Tell Weren he needs to get the army to the rendezvous point now," I barked. "We'll have to let some of the enemy convoy through after all, and that means he'll have a fight on his hands the minute we spring our trap."
Wend and Marc exchanged glances before stepping back inside the camp's walls.
"What do we do with these?" I gestured toward Merrin and the others.
"Let me deal with them," Adahi offered. "Take your news back to Sherra and Cole. Their plans must change quickly to accommodate the new information."
* * *
King's City
Kerok
"Your father's body has been moved to the receiving chamber, to lie in state," Hunter sat on a guest chair. "You won't believe the weeping and wailing coming from the Council, none of whom have bothered to visit Wulf in the past few months. I can't wait to hear the excuses," Hunter snorted.
"You sound tired. You should have taken a marching draught, too," I pointed out.
"I hate that stuff," he waved away the suggestion. "I have trouble sleeping for days afterward."
"I hoped I'd find you together," Adahi announced as he appeared, flinging four people onto the floor beside Hunter's chair.
I was on my feet immediately, as was Hunter, but I shouldn't have worried. The phantom had already removed their power; I imagine he waited to see what I wished to do with Merrin, the murderous traitor, and three of his followers.
"The city belongs to me," Merrin said, his words and tone soaked in belligerence.
"You idiot, you placed it in danger," Adahi growled.
"Thorn?" Merrin turned toward me. "Tell him. I'm the heir."
"Merrin?" Hunter knelt so they'd be at eye level with one another.
"What, Uncle Hunter?" Merrin blinked at him.
"This." Hunter punched Merrin square in the face, rendering him unconscious.
"Couldn't have done a better job myself," Adahi said.
"These will be delivered to the lockup," I said as the escorts cowered and the warrior blanched.
"Prince Thorn, I was coerced," the warrior began.
"That's King Thorn to you, you pathetic bunghole," Hunter hissed. "Guards," he shouted. "Bring cuffs and come quickly."
There is a concern, Adahi informed me while Hunter waited for the guards to arrive. You should consider leaving the city.
"What concern?" I spoke aloud.
Adahi didn't bother replying in kind-he showed me his visions instead.
* * *
Land Bridge
Sherra
"Never say things can't get worse," Cole advised. "Someone will take it as a challenge."
Caral and Misten, after hearing that the enemy convoy could be longer than the land bridge, had covered themselves in a mirror shield and left to scout the situation. They were back quickly.
"It's three times as long," Caral reported after dropping the shield about them. "The trucks carrying the planes are at the end, as Levi said. We assume the vehicles ahead of those are the ones carrying the bombs. Those trucks are closed and show no signs of carrying troops."
"That means we must allow the bulk of the troops with their normal ration of bombs through," Cole grumbled.
"The army is prepared to meet them at the southern edge of the bomb crater," Armon said. "I just received mindspeak from Wend."
"That gives Ruarke ample time to get away," I pointed out. "Which he will do; he won't stay around to see what we have planned for the others."
"Will he step back to Ny-nes?" Caral asked.
"I don't know," Cole shook his head. "I've attempted to contact Kyri, but she isn't responding."
"What about Pottles?" I asked.
"I'll send a message," Cole agreed.
"We have to hurry," Caral said. "I can hear the trucks coming, now."
She was right-I could hear them, too.
"Caral, mirror shield," I snapped. "Misten, add your power to hers."
"On it," Caral said.
We stood at the southwestern edge of the land bridge, and in moments, the first trucks would appear and begin to cross.
We had to wait until the trucks carrying the planes and bombs came along. "Move back and to the sides," Armon shouted. "Go now. Do not engage the enemy, do you hear? Az-ca's army is waiting for them."
Sherra? Caral said as I remained where I was.
I have a plan-just for me, I told her before forming a mirrored bubble shield about myself. I could send bubble shields into the air and hold them there. I was about to see if I could include myself in that equation.
* * *
Armon
Sherra? She'd disappeared and I had no idea where she was.
I'm fine, I'm adjusting things to deal with the wind.
The wind where?
On the west side of the land bridge.
You are not on the land bridge, I snapped in mindspeak.
No, I'm in a mirrored bubble shield, hanging in the air over the water so I can watch the convoy. I want to release the trap at the right moment, and this location will give me the best view of it. I'll relay information as they pass by, if that will help.
Anything will help, but bloody hells, Sherra, I cursed.
So far, things are going all right-for my first time at this. They're about to cross; I can see the lead trucks.
I can see them, too, I retorted. From a safe place south and west. On. The. Ground.
Armon, be careful, all right?
Me? You're saying this to me, while you're hanging in a bubble shield in midair? I'm overcome by the irony.
Armon, I see rockets-between vehicles carrying troops. These are far bigger than those I've seen before, Sherra reported. I could detect the fear rising in her mental voice. So many troop vehicles-they're crossing three and four abreast, she added. Armon, it looks like they've emptied Ny-nes.
I see it, I said before sending hasty mindspeak to Wend and Thorn.
* * *
King's City
Kerok
Don't give them enough time or space to set up their launchers, I shouted mentally at Wend. Tell Weren to move the army forward-to the northern edge of the bomb crater.
He's moving the troops now, Wend sounded breathless. I'm instructing the escorts to construct a mirror shield-those who can, she added.
Good. We don't want them to know we're anywhere except Secondary Camp. Make sure everyone is hidden.
We're working on it, Commander.
"Hunter," I shouted aloud.
"Here," he almost ran into my study.
"You're in charge. I'm going to the front," I began pulling my formal clothing off so I could dress in an old uniform.
"But the law," Hunter protested.
"Says that the Crown Prince cannot serve as Commander of the Army. It says nothing about the King participating in a battle."
"But," Hunter objected.
"Hunter, you'll make a good King, if it comes to that. I'll be back." I stepped to my suite; surely one of my old uniforms was lying about somewhere.
* * *
Sherra
Caral, Az-ca's army is on the northern edge of the bomb crater. Is Derissa safe?
Some of Cole's people got her away, Caral replied. I'm not sure where-they just said she was safe.
All right.
What are you seeing? she asked.
Too many troops, weapons and vehicles.
Sherra? Wend's voice interrupted the conversation.
Wend?
We've emptied Secondary Camp. All the former washouts, trainees, everybody is here, she said. Tell me how to keep them alive.
Put them together, I said. Let them build shields together, to protect themselves and the ones firing blasts. For those who can do neither, then set them up to provide energy. Make sure they know what their limit is and to disengage when the limit is reached.
I will-we taught them that; Caral, Misten and I.
Good work. Just remember, we'll be on the back side of the enemy after they cross the bridge; I think Cole has something planned for this end of things.
We've set up mirror shields, so they won't realize we're here, she added.
Perfect, I said. Let them scramble when they can't see their enemy to fire their missiles and bombs.
I told General Weren where you are, Wend said after a moment. He says they'll have to adjust the distances on their fireblasts so they won't hit Cole's people.
I'll advise Armon and Cole, I said. They need to ensure they're shielded well enough in case of a misfire.
Sherra? Wend suddenly sounded unsure of herself.
What is it? I asked. Her tone worried me.
The King is here-to fight with us, she informed me.
* * *
Armon
I struggled to hide my surprise when King Thorn informed me he was with Weren and the army on the north rim of the bomb crater.
We're on the southwestern side of the land bridge, I reported when he asked for our location. We'll move in behind the enemy, once Sherra springs her trap.
Where is she?
I was afraid he'd ask that question.
She's ah, floating in a bubble shield on the western side of the land bridge, so she can gauge the proper time to release the trap.
I waited several seconds before receiving a reply from Thorn. Over the water, she's hanging? In a bubble shield?
I believe it's a mirrored bubble shield, but yes-that's how I understood it. Sir, I believe she loves you very much, I added.
Right. I look forward to seeing her when this is over.
With your permission, I'll wait to pass on that message.
Understood and agreed.
Commander? I'd already fallen into old habits, calling him by an old title. I can see the trucks carrying the planes, I said. They're approaching the bridge, now.
The troops are ready; let me know when the enemy is in the proper position.
I suspect they'll begin their preparations the moment the trap is sprung.
* * *
Ruarke
My remaining clerics groveled if I looked at them. I'd held off burning former Council members to death inside the vehicle-the hole I'd blown into the side when I'd done away with Niles left an ugly gap in the canvas. The ragged edges of the remaining fabric flapped in the wind with annoying regularity and wore on my nerves.
We'd already passed over the land bridge; I could still see it behind us in the distance, as the vehicles pulling the planes and carrying the massive bombs began their crossing.
Soon enough, the enemy would be destroyed and I would dance on the remains of the King's City.
Wait.
It hit me, then-hard. The premonition. How had I not felt it before? Fear crawled up my spine and I shouted for the driver to stop as the land bridge collapsed behind us with a terrible roar, dropping bombs and planes toward the sea below.
The driver pulled over, but only when the first fireblast exploded at the head of the convoy, nearly a mile ahead of us.
There was no mistaking that sound, however, and I cursed before realization dawned. I stepped away before anyone could attempt to stop me.
* * *
Sherra
The tunnels I'd built beneath the land bridge had mimicked a honeycomb, much like the one Adahi described in the catacombs beneath the King's City.
Once I collapsed all the shields I'd built to hold the tunnels in place, the bridge fell, beautifully and in slow motion, taking planes and bombs with it, until they fell with a scream of twisting metal into the sea.
The land bridge was gone, and in the distance, I could hear the boom-boom of fireblasts targeting the head of the enemy convoy.
I needed to get myself back to land and do what I could to help.
Except Adahi appeared from nowhere inside my bubble shield, floating there as if he were nothing more than air.
Perhaps he was.
"I need you, and the King's City needs you," he said quickly. "But, to be at your most effective, you must be unconscious." The blow that hit my face had power behind it, if not physical flesh. I discovered later that it didn't matter which it was-I was rendered unconscious immediately.
* * *
Kerok
We'd done damage before the first bombs and rockets were fired in our direction, but these weapons were more powerful than any I'd seen before. I became worried immediately that shields wouldn't hold.
Sherra? I sent mindspeak.
I received no answer and that terrified me.
Armon?
Commander?
Have you heard from Sherra?
No, Commander. I haven't seen her either, although the land bridge collapsed, just as expected. The vehicles carrying the planes and their bombs are now in the sea.
Have Sherra contact me if you hear from her.
I will.
I didn't tell him that fear froze my heart. If she were alive, she should have answered.
Fuck. I fired another blast, determined to make the enemy pay.
* * *
Ny-nes
Kyri
The time had come. I knew that both armies were now engaged on Az-ca's border. Kaakos would be sending his divination tendrils in that direction, to find the roots of this early attack.
His attention would be diverted. Taking the coin from my pocket, I began my spell to breach his barrier.
* * *
King's City
Ruarke
Where was the fucking city? I knew better than anyone just where it was, and had stepped to a place outside the outer northern dome. I'd been here recently, in fact; it couldn't have been moved or destroyed in that length of time.
Something had prevented me from stepping farther in than that, this time and last, but I couldn't determine what it was. Kaakos' mindspeak rattled inside my head while I studied my surroundings, demanding to know what had gone wrong and why I hadn't received a premonition as I usually did, before the land bridge was attacked. There's no way for the army to get out again, except through the poisoned lands, he railed at me.
I ignored his mindspeak as I considered the problem before me.
The domes of the King's City-all of them-had disappeared. Only desert, cactus and heat waves had greeted me upon my arrival.
No matter. I knew what lay beneath those domes, and I'd known for a very long time how fragile and vulnerable the catacombs made the domes overhead.
All I had to do was send a few blasts into the ground and they'd collapse-just like the land bridge had collapsed.
Someone else had worked against me in this-someone powerful. Could it be Adahi?
He's dead, I reminded myself. Kaakos assured me the body was still in Ny-nes. Was it the one who'd shown me Adahi's face? It took power to replicate features like that.
What the fuck are you doing? Where are you? Kaakos screamed in my mind.
I'm about to destroy the King's City, I replied calmly.
Oh. Carry on, then.
The first fireblast would be the strongest, I decided, and began to build it. A single figure walked out of the heat shimmer, then.
A woman.
Rose and Thorn: Black Rose Sorceress, Book 2 Page 24