by Zaya Feli
Ren frowned, blinking. “Being Halvard's son is a little different than just being Skarlan.”
Jayce dropped his head, dark curls falling over his forehead before he shook them back. “Blood doesn't make a family. You can choose your family.”
Ren looked at him for a long time, something pleasant stirring inside him when he turned those words over in his head.
The tent flap shifted and Ilias returned with a bucket of water in each hand, gasping and panting. He placed the buckets on the grass and wiped his brow. “The soldiers are preparing to ride out,” Ilias said. “It's all so scary.” He turned a wide-eyed look on Ren. “You'll be okay, right?”
Ren nodded. “It is scary, but things are going to be much better once it's over.” He stood. “No more war. No more slavery. We're going to turn things around.”
Ilias closed the space between them and wrapped his arms around Ren's waist. “Please be careful,” he said, voice muffled against Ren's jacket.
Ren stroked his hands along Ilias' back, returning Jayce's soft smile over Ilias' shoulder. “I will,” he said.
* * *
Ren had never seen Aleria's surroundings so empty of people. The royal highway to the west was empty, along with the surrounding fields. The usual flow of people moving in and out through the main gates of the city was glaringly absent. So were the stag's head banners that used to billow above the gates like a symbol of pride. It left Ren feeling uneasy, the sight itself entirely unnatural. He swallowed, hands trembling faintly on the reins. This was the last time in a while he'd see Aleria in its glory. If their plan held, the beautifully constructed front gates would be shattered by sundown and the golden sandstone would be dyed red. When Ren thought about whose blood might be covering the stones, his resolve nearly wavered. He flinched when Evalyne stopped her horse next to his and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Ren,” she said. Her expression was hard, but her eyes were sad. The shining silver armour and plate gave her a severe appearance. “Here.” She held out a weapon, a sleek lightwood longbow. “I meant to give it to you sooner.” She detached a quiver from her belt and offered it as well.
Ren hesitated, revulsion rising. Then he remembered the conversation he'd had with Anik. He couldn't fear bows for the rest of his life. He didn't plan on using it, but in a tight situation, it might save his life. He had made a promise, after all. “Thank you,” he said, taking the bow from her. He slipped the string over his chest and strapped the quiver to his belt.
“In Llyne, I promised I'd go easy on your countrymen because they didn't have a choice,” Evalyne continued. “You know I can't offer the same courtesy now. I can't tell my men to avoid killing in a battle of this scale.”
Ren nodded, doubting he would be able to speak through the tightness in his throat. After today, Ren would have loyal Fraynean soldiers' lives on his conscience. Men and women who loved their true king and served their nation with pride, but had no choice but to raise swords against the soldiers trying to liberate them. The only glimmer of hope lay in Anik reaching the hostages quickly, setting them free, and leading them out of the city as quickly as possible to minimize losses. If he failed...
“Skahli.”
Ren tore his gaze from the castle and looked at Anik as he approached, then did a double take. Anik was dressed in Skarlan light armor. From the leather breeches to the engraved shoulder guards, he carried the Skarlan theme of grey and silver through to perfection, his appearance sleek and deadly. It was as unexpected as it was appealing.
“Unnerving, isn't it?” Anik said, gesturing at himself as he led Sakai over. The dark stallion wasn't armoured, since Anik wouldn't be riding him into battle for the first half of the attack. Since returning, Anik had exchanged the Skarlan saddle for a simpler one made of sheepskin. Ren's gelding had its back and chest covered in a layer of light chainmail.
“You look good,” Ren said.
“So do you.”
Ren stroked a hand over his armoured chest, feeling the hard metal against the leather of his glove. His armour was Skarlan, too, with the snarling wolf engraved on the chest, but the parts of his jacket showing underneath were a brilliant gold-edged white.
“Ren,” Anik said, leaning in closer so he could grab Ren's arm. “When I leave for Aleria, my men will take your orders.”
“Are you sure?” Ren looked over his shoulder. The Lowlanders were taking their positions, forming the walls meant to stop flanking attacks.
“I'm sure,” Anik said. “Valkon and Cainon's soldiers have taken a liking to you. Ilona has control of the Iskaal workers and she trusts my judgement. She commands them all. They'll listen to you.”
A war horn blared over the hills, deep and mournful. It was followed by another. The massive city gates began to swing slowly open.
“I don't want you to leave,” Ren said, gripping Anik's wrist as fear spiked inside him.
Anik reached up with his free hand and cupped Ren's cheek. His gaze was intense. “I'll come back to you as soon as the hostages are free. I promise.”
“Promise?” Ren asked, breathless.
“With the earth as my witness, I promise.”
Ren held Anik's gaze. If there was one thing Ren knew about him, it was that Anik would never break a promise. The whirlpool of emotions inside him settled into something more manageable.
On the horizon, the gates of the city opened wide. The dull sound of boots against stone was at first distant, like waves on a far shore. As Ren watched the gates, the sound grew louder. Then he saw them, rows of soldiers in white and gold, flanked and trailed by a sea of grey and silver. They poured, never-ending, onto the open ground below the city walls.
“There are so many of them,” Ren said.
Evalyne's horse tossed its head. “But they're meeting us in the field. It's just like my father and it's to our advantage. He can't help his pride, despite Nathair no doubt advising him to keep behind the walls.”
“How many in white and gold?” Ren asked.
It was Kana who answered. “At least a thousand.”
Ren's eyes widened and he looked at Anik. How many hostages would be needed to control a thousand soldiers? The scale of Anik's task seemed overwhelming, but Anik's expression didn't mirror Ren's uncertainty.
“There'll likely only be half that many hostages,” Anik said, as if he'd read Ren's mind. “Some will have brothers and sisters in the army. Besides, it's not difficult to tell a man that he's responsible for the lives of the family of the soldier fighting next to him. No one wants to be the dick who got another person's child or mother killed. Remember, Halvard can't spare many of his soldiers because he needs them to control the Frayneans. They won't be keeping more hostages than they can handle.”
“Right,” Ren murmured.
Sakai twitched, dancing on the spot. Ren raised his gaze to Anik's face. He looked calm, collected, the warrior's mask of confidence firmly in place, but Ren knew he was nervous.
Looking back at the rows upon rows of soldiers falling into position before them made Ren's heart sink. He swore quietly. It was a huge mass of bodies, over twice the size of their own army. The Frayneans formed a broad strip at the very front, a barrier protecting Halvard's men from first contact.
“Sly motherfucker.” Anik's growl echoed Ren's own thoughts and they shared a look.
Everything stilled. The sound of boots and rattling metal stopped. A blackbird began an enthusiastic, bright tune, completely oblivious to the coming carnage. High above, the more intelligent carrion crows gathered at the promise of a feast.
Another horn blared, this one pitched higher. A few riders broke from the mass of soldiers and galloped forward, one bearing a banner with the Skarlan wolf fringed in green, the colour of diplomacy.
“Let's see what they have to say,” Evalyne said.
“Should I follow?” Ren asked.
Evalyne shook her head, filling Ren with a sense of relief. “No. Stay here and prepare yourself. I'll fill you in.”
She nudged her horse forward, followed by Kana. They had no banner-bearer displaying the symbol of Evalyne's fox, nor was there a single stag symbol in their ranks, aside from engravings on the swords and armour of the Frayneans who had joined them and brought their own.
Ren watched Evalyne and Kana's figures grow smaller.
“You watch out, you hear?” Anik's gaze was directed forward, but Ren could see the tightness of his expression.
“I'll keep away from the front,” Ren said, like he had assured Anik the night before, when they had been safe and warm in each other's arms. Ren didn't blame him for wanting to hear it a second time.
Evalyne, Kana, and the Skarlan diplomats approached each other, slowing their horses. It was too far for Ren to see who had ridden out to meet them. A few minutes passed, then the two groups parted and rode in the directions they'd come.
Evalyne's horse was breathing hard from the gallop when she reached them. She spun in a half-circle to fall in line next to Ren. On her other side, Rafya moved close.
“Nathair isn't with them,” Evalyne said. “That confirms my suspicion. He disagrees with my father taking the fight outside the walls. He must have refused to lead the army.”
“That's good news, right?” Ren asked.
Evalyne flashed him a grin. “That's excellent news. Nathair is his best commander.”
“What did they say?” Anik asked, leaning over Sakai's neck to look at her.
“Oh, just what you'd expect,” Evalyne said, shrugging. “That Halvard will accept our surrender on the terms that every soldier must become his eternal servant and that myself, you two, and every high-ranking officer be delivered for execution.”
“That sounds appealing,” Rafya said, rolling his eyes. “I'm surprised you didn't accept.”
“I feel more in the mood for some exercise today.”
Ren took a breath and looked away, too tense to take part in the banter. “Did you see the guard captain?”
“Berin, right?” she asked. “No, he wasn't with them either.”
Ren looked at Anik. He wanted to say something more. They could both end up dead today and there was so much he wanted him to know. He wanted to kiss him again, feel Anik's warm, soft lips against his.
There was no time.
The rumbling war horn sounded again, momentarily drowning out every other sound. The blackbirds quieted and darted from their perches in the trees. Slowly, the massive sea of soldiers below the walls of the city began to move.
“Sound the horn,” Evalyne said.
Kana reached for her belt, raising the curved bull's horn to her lips.
As the deep, mournful bellow echoed between the hills, louder for its proximity, Ren closed his hand around the hilt of his sword and nudged his gelding forward.
The span of time before the clash was agonizingly long. To his right, Kana directed the pace to keep them from losing speed and being run over by the enemy at first contact. Ren's horse tugged on the reins, whipping its tail with the urge to stretch and run, but Ren held it back, letting men on foot overtake him until he rode with the second row of calvary. To his left, Anik drifted away. Ren's heart raced and he shot glances after him, hands white-knuckled on the reins. Anik steered his horse towards the left flank and Ren felt panic rise inside him at all the things he hadn't yet said or done. He wanted to shout at Anik to come back, but there was no stopping what they had set in motion.
Evalyne and Kana were near the front. Ren looked over his shoulder. The sound of hundreds of feet and hooves around him was like thunder.
The first bodies slammed together.
It was nothing like the glorious victories described in court or the accounts in history books. The two armies met like crashing waves. Those who had led the charge and fallen were trampled by soldiers coming from behind. Ren pulled on his reins to stop his horse from pushing ahead. He looked along the ranks of soldiers to each side. The hard line separating friend from enemy was already beginning to blur. Like this, the line of Fraynean soldiers was a narrow strip of white between two masses of grey.
To Ren's left, Lowlanders rode forward to stop the attackers attempting to curve around their forces.
Ren held his gelding back, his promise to Anik ringing in his ears. He couldn't lose track of the situation.
People screamed, horses screamed. And then the line began to collapse.
Ren saw the glint of steel a split second before it could bite into his knee. With a grunt, he turned his hand and stopped the strike with the edge of his sword, twisting the attacker's weapon away. He raised his sword, ready to strike downwards in a killing blow, but stopped. The man's normally pristine white uniform was splattered with blood and dirt. As Ren watched, he raised his weapon, eyes wide and full of pain. Ren slipped his boot from the stirrup and kicked out, hitting the man in the chest and sending him tumbling to the ground. A second later, he was lost in the crowd.
Ren was too close to the front. He had to retreat.
He looked up. There were Frayneans on either side of him, pushing past and into their ranks. “Secure the left,” he barked, forcing his horse backwards and moving around the group of enemy soldiers forcing their way through. “Secure the left!”
His men gathered around him, raising swords and shields to stop the charge. Ren swung his sword at an enemy Skarlan and kicked another in the chest, but it wasn't enough. “Pull back! Form a line of defence,” he shouted, spinning his mount and guiding the soldiers around him into a better position. On his right, Evalyne and Kana did the same. They were losing ground. They had been prepared for it, but Ren hadn't thought it would happen this fast.
Ren looked to the flank. The Lowlanders were holding it with more success than the men at the front. He hesitated. Taking men from the flank was a dangerous move, but none of it would matter if the centre broke and enemy soldiers started pouring into their midst, splitting their force in two.
Ren reined his mount around, shoving through the mass of people to get to the left flank. He searched the line of men for a familiar face and locked in on a head of curly hair tied into a bun.
“Ilona!” Ren kneed his horse forward, the animal holding its head high to avoid the mass of people.
Ilona spun, a smeared line of blood across her nose making her eyes glow even brighter.
“I need men for the front. We're losing ground,” Ren said, voice raised to be heard over the deafening chaos.
“How many?” Ilona shouted back.
Ren looked up. Half the Lowlander force on the left side was still hanging back. “Give me fifty.”
Ilona nodded once, turned, and barked something in Lowlandish. The far line of Lowlanders began to move and Ren spun his gelding and carved a path from the flank to the front line. The men fell in on either side of him and enemy soldiers stopped pouring through, met by a wall of Lowlanders.
Then another sound cut through the noises of the fight. A shimmer on the horizon made Ren raise his head. At first, it looked like nothing but a shapeless shadow, but as it grew, the twinkle of a hundred shining arrowheads turned Ren's blood cold. He twisted in the saddle, grabbed his shield, and held it over his head. “Arrows! Taker cover!”
* * *
Leaving the battle went against every instinct Anik possessed. He made his way in a wide berth around the left flank with his group of five, watching the people fighting behind them turn into an indistinguishable muddle of moving bodies. Anik tried to look for a pale gelding and a head of golden hair, but it was impossible. He turned his attention to the path ahead. He had a job to do, one that required his full attention. He couldn't be distracted.
Sakai whinnied softly and Anik stroked his neck to keep him calm, then reached underneath his shirt to draw out the horseshoe pendant, the metal warm from the heat of his skin. He brushed his lips against it before letting it fall back against his chest, the act filling him with a sense of calm.
Despite the lack of guards patrolling the walls of the city, Anik couldn't help the cold,
creeping feeling of exposure that made his hairs stand on end. He wore only light armour and carried no shield, similar to Valkon and Cainon. Rafya and his assassin companion were on foot with no armour at all. Their last man, a Lowlander by the name of Tavoc with a body like an ox, had opted to walk as well and carried two extra swords and an axe in case they found themselves in a shortage. They had no idea how many Skarlan guards were waiting for them inside the sanctuary, but it paid to be prepared.
As it turned out, Aleria was better protected against intruders than Iskaal had been. There was a secret door in the wall around the west side, but it was secured from the inside and had no lock. Instead, Rafya led them to a place where the wall made a sharp turn, forming a ninety-degree angle.
Rafya paused, pushing his long coat aside to draw out a pair of unusual metal contraptions. Raising one foot and then the other, he slipped them over the toes of his boots so that a sharp metal edge extended past the toes. He dug his hand into a small pouch at his hip and drew it out covered in white powder.
Anik tilted his head back. The top of the wall was nearly fifty feet up and the surface was smooth. When Rafya had explained that he'd scale the wall and open the secret door from the inside, Anik hadn't had the slightest idea how he'd accomplish it. Apparently, all it took was some spiky boots and a bit of white powder. “Don't fall,” he murmured.
“I'm going to try my best not to,” Rafya said, brushing excess powder from his hands. “Here's hoping none of the guards inside are facing this way, or I'll be like a dangling fly in a spider's web on the way down.”
“What if you get shot?” Valkon asked, glancing down at the Isilghan with a sceptical expression.
Rafya shrugged. “That's why I brought him,” he said, angling his thumb at his assassin companion with little remorse.
Anik allowed himself half a smile. He respected the Isilghans, but he couldn't pretend to understand them. Dismounting, he held Sakai by the reins and stroked the stallion's soft nose. Sakai looked at him with gentle, intelligent eyes. The thought of leaving him behind tore at Anik's heart, but riding through the streets of Aleria on a massive stallion would draw too much attention. Next to him, Valkon and Cainon followed his example. The mounts would come in handy when guiding the hostages across the open space outside the city walls, but until then, they'd have to leave them behind.