Nahtan was almost painfully aware of Bear's absence, but didn't let himself dwell on it. He'd made his choice, he only hoped his friend could understand someday how necessary it had been for Nahtan to do what he had for the battle below the plateau to end quickly and with fewer losses from the Mo'ani and Olorun armies. By using the Well from his old world to send the souls of Zared's returned soldiers to oblivion, Nahtan had kept far more men from dying than if the battle had continued on as it was. It had also ended the battle much faster than it otherwise would have taken.
He could still feel the burning under his heart where Rial's killing thrust had cut so deep. It was settled there now, open and waiting for him to use it again. Nahtan didn't have to fight it anymore, he didn't have to struggle with it, wondering if it would drag him down into oblivion at any given moment. He'd touched it before, but never held it inside him this way. He felt more in control now than he had since Valry had been taken from him. He knew that getting his daughter back was finally within his reach, and with this inside him, there was nothing Thorvald could do to stop him. Lord Valin was wherever Valry was, watching over her and keeping her safe until Nahtan could get there, and he would be there soon.
After the battle Gaurel had seemed deeply concerned, but had spoken to him little. He'd offered Nahtan quiet warnings, and offered to close the power off, but Nahtan had ordered the young mage away. He wanted him to concentrate only on keeping Valry safe when the Well called her to their old world when she was asleep.
It had only been three days since the battle, but Nahtan wasn't willing to wait any longer. Any man able to travel and fight had been ordered back to their positions. It was already going to take them at least a full day to get the Olorun and Mo'ani armies on the road, then at least a week to get to Basiyr. Nahtan had expected Lady Caya and possibly Trey to stay in Olorun because of the danger at Basiyr, but in the end, even Lady Caya had offered to come along. Though not a chosen priestess like Yenene, she figured she could offer some comfort and guidance to those who might need it, as well as help in the healers' tents.
She had insisted on still traveling with one of her wagons though. It was something that had annoyed Nahtan, but he had bitten back his comments and allowed it in the end. The wagon slowed them down more than he liked, but in the end it was Yenene that he had relented and given in for. He knew she and Lady Caya had become as close as sisters and he did it as a favor for her.
Asher had sent riders to his other allied holds that first night after the battle while everyone else was celebrating the victory. Nahtan had seen the requests he'd sent, and though they were politely worded, they were also quite firm in stating that they were expected to send what armies they could to assist them at Basiyr. When Nahtan had questioned Lord Nivan about the wording, Neyl had explained to him that Asher had the largest hold here outside of Basiyr, and was the one they all relied on during times of hardship as well as for overall security in the area. If disputes arose between two holds, it was Asher that they turned to for a resolution of the problem. So if he'd requested they send armies to help them at Basiyr, Nahtan could be assured there would be armies sent or the next time those holds needed help, Asher would remember their refusal.
Nahtan knew his friends rode mixed in with the army. Brijade and Jedrik had been at the front with him, Asher and Asher's oldest son and daughter. He knew Yenene was riding with Trey and Lady Caya. Calan and Asher's teen daughter Kenah were sitting on the opposite side of the column about a half league up the road. Gaurel was nowhere to be seen, but that wasn't unusual anymore either. Garren and Korrie hadn't been seen yet, neither had Mallin, but the former church guard had been scarce for some time. Nahtan wasn't sure if he was having conflicts of conscience, but he'd been keeping to himself since they'd left Edgewind to head west.
Movement ahead caught their attention and he turned, seeing a Mo'ani he didn't recognize talking to Brijade. The Mo'ani's horse was sweat-soaked and both were dust covered from riding. Brijade pointed down at Nahtan and the man turned his horse, spurring it into a gallop.
"Your Majesty," the rider bowed his head to him, pulling his horse in when he reached him. He handed him a sealed parchment. "A message from Lord Mo'ani, Sir."
Nahtan nodded, taking the message and immediately concerned. Mo'ani wouldn't be sending a messenger unless there was a problem. Both the man and his horse looked like they'd been on the road straight through with only the shortest necessary breaks for rest. Both were dirty from travel, and the Mo'ani hadn't shaved for some time.
Nahtan recognized Mo'ani's seal, frowning, knowing the message was valid. He broke the seal and opened it, his eyes moving over the carefully written letter quickly.
The burning in his chest grew as he reached the bottom. Thorvald thought he was going to hold Herridon under siege? There was more, about an old tunnel Thorvald's armies had found to save time from going over the pass. Mo'ani gave the location of the entrance to the tunnel on this side of the mountains so Nahtan could use it when he headed north. Nahtan closed the letter and turned to the Mo'ani.
"Take some time to rest yourself and your horse," he ordered. He turned to Asher. "We have a problem."
"What's that?" Asher asked him, his tone telling Nahtan he'd noted the change in his demeanor.
"Thorvald's got my crown city siege locked with an army of six thousand church guards," Nahtan said. "So my other armies are staying there."
Asher nodded, and Nahtan could tell he was thinking over their options.
"If he's got six thousand there, and we took out two thousand 'ere," he figured. "Thorvald can't 'ave that many left at Basiyr."
"Where the hell does he get so many men for his armies?" Nahtan asked.
"Conscripts," Asher replied. "He sends 'is officers out into the cities and villages and forces the able-bodied to join 'im. If they refuse, then Aduran starts sendin' their family members to 'is altars."
Nahtan stared at him. "Why didn't you ever send a message to Herridon to ask for help?"
Asher looked back at him. "Ye've only been on the throne for a few years," he reminded him. "And down 'ere, we've still been fightin' the war against the Archbishop." He shook his head. "We've got a whole different world from what ye've got up north of the mountains, Ye're Majesty," he said.
Nahtan sighed and nodded. Rial had told him as much, it was why it had taken the young lord three years to chase down the slavers and clear out the slave auctions to follow the chain of command up to Thorvald in the first place. Most of the smaller villages and towns this far south hadn't even heard the Archbishop was dead and they had a new king on the throne until Nahtan had shown up.
"I need to get an idea of how many armies Thorvald has at Basiyr," Nahtan said. "I don't have enough at Herridon to break a siege that size there, I'll need to divert some of my army here to head north." He looked up at where Brijade still sat with Jedrik and wondered if Bear had told her where he was going. There were several places he might go, but Herridon was one of them.
"We can take 'em all north after Basiyr," Asher told him. "Olorun may not be one of ye're sworn holds, but we've had near four hundred years of alliance between us."
Nahtan paused, looking at Asher and realizing he was serious. That just might give him the numbers he would need, especially if Asher's other allies sent their armies to join them at Basiyr.
He nodded his head. "I need to let Brijade know," he said, turning Renato and spurring him into a gallop. The big horse jumped eagerly into a run, covering the distance quickly.
"Messenger from Herridon?" Brijade asked when he pulled Renato to a stop by them.
"Yes," he said. "Let me know if you see Korrie go by in case I miss her," Nahtan ordered. "I want her riding ahead to Basiyr."
"What's going on?" Brijade asked, obviously noting his tone and expression.
"Thorvald's got Herridon under siege," Nahtan told her. "Mo'ani's staying there to help the others try to figure out how to break it or at least keep it under control until
we can get there."
"They're calling the other armies, aren't they?" Brijade asked, frowning with concern.
"I'm sure Mo'ani's got them coming," Nahtan nodded to her. "He didn't go into details in his message, in case it got intercepted."
Brijade nodded. "I haven't seen her yet. She'll be with Garren and probably Gaurel. I'm kind of surprised they weren't towards the front."
"Did 'e say 'how many men are there?" Jedrik asked.
"It's a full siege," Nahtan told him. "So it's at least six thousand."
Jedrik nodded. "What're ye're numbers there?"
Nahtan shook his head. "I haven't seen the current numbers from the holds, and I don't know the reserve figures," he said. "Before we left, I could probably pull together just over three thousand if I called in what's at every hold."
"What 'ave ye got inside the city?" Jedrik asked next.
"I left eight hundred cloaked Mo'ani in the city," Nahtan replied. He could tell the old man was working on the numbers.
"Ye got someone there in the city 'at knows what they're doin'?"
Nahtan studied him for a long moment. "I left someone a few years younger than me in charge, who spent most of his childhood too sick to get out of bed," he replied. "He's barely able to sit on a horse for more than a few hours at a time now, and will never be strong enough to lift more than a dagger."
Jedrik stared at him. "What in the 'ell possessed ye to leave a boy like that in charge of ye're city and army?!" he demanded.
"Because he's also very intelligent, knows the Mo'ani and their training inside and out, and has studied Thaniel of Basiyr since childhood, so he's become very good with logistics and tactics," Nahtan replied.
Jedrik stared back at him for a long moment.
"Ye could 'ave just said 'at to start wit'," he grumbled.
Nahtan shrugged. "Most people judge Gahrit by his appearance," he said. "It makes them underestimate him--and his health is a factor, he's not going to be able to be out personally giving orders through the city or being up for full days and nights."
"'At boy must've been sick a lot," Jedrik snorted. "If 'e read every damned thing Thaniel of Basiyr wrote."
"I'd hope he skipped the meal logs for Valerik's armies, but knowing Gahrit, I can't be sure," Nahtan said.
"So ye got three thousand outside," Jedrik said. "And eight 'undred inside." He drew a slow breath. "Let me think on this one Ye're Majesty," he told Nahtan. "Ye got any way to talk to those on the inside?"
"Right now, I'd say probably not," Nahtan said. "But if Bear's heading to Herridon," he paused to give Brijade a deliberate glance. If he'd told anyone where he was going, it would have been her. Her expression remained the same, though, not telling him if she knew where he was going or not. "Then he'd be the one to figure out a way to get a message through."
"This Gahrit smart enough to get a message back out if one got in?"
"He could be," Nahtan nodded.
"All right," Jedrik nodded. "Let me think on it." He paused. "Ye might need to send a rider back to ye're city ahead of ye."
"I'm sure I can find someone to spare," Nahtan told him. He gave Brijade another glance, then rode back to his place by Asher.
"'At man's not 'appy wit' ye," Jedrik noted to Brijade when Nahtan was out of earshot.
"He thinks I know where Sewati went when he left," Brijade shrugged.
"And do ye?" Jedrik asked.
"It doesn't really matter," Brijade looked at him. "He's not here and he's not coming back."
"Do ye think 'e knows about the babe?" Jedrik's gaze was direct and tone concerned.
Brijade shook her head. "I'm not showing yet and unless you or Yenene told him, then no. Yenene's herbs have kept the nausea at bay, so there hasn't been that to tip him off."
"I ain't told 'im," Jedrik assured her. "Ye sure ye don't know which one's the father?"
Brijade shook her head. "About the time I figure I got pregnant, there were a couple of nights I was with both Nahtan and Sewati within hours of each other," she shrugged. "It really could be either one."
Jedrik shook his head at her and clucked his tongue. "Didn't ye're da ever teach ye better 'an 'at?"
Brijade chuckled at him. "My da might 'ave," she said, imitating his accent perfectly. "If 'e and my ma 'adn't gotten 'emselves killed when I was just bare old enough to start walkin'. My brother only lasted a few years longer, so I'm afraid ye're stuck wit' a lass who grew up figurin' it out on 'er own."
Jedrik stared at her. "Ye got the Steppes down?" he asked her, surprised.
Brijade shrugged. "I was always able to do the Olorun accent," she said. "It used to really irk Kile when he'd be trying to yell at me in the training yard and I'd argue back with it. It took me a bit to pick up your particular rhythm, but I think I've got it now."
"Ye're goin' to be showin' soon," Jedrik told her. "Ye're comin' close to two months now, and by the time we get to Basiyr, ye'll just 'bout be there."
Brijade nodded and sighed. "Which is why I'm really hoping we aren't stuck with a long siege at Basiyr."
Jedrik shook his head. "Ye're king ain't goin' to sit there long," he assured her. "Not wit' what we saw 'im do a few days ago. Whatever 'e's got in 'im now, ye can be sure 'e's goin' to be usin' it against Thorvald. 'E's got an arm's reach to 'is daughter now. Once he can get Thorvald out o' 'is way, won't be nothin' to stop 'im from gettin' to 'at temple and gettin' to 'is little girl."
Brijade nodded again. "Do you have any children?" she asked him.
"Aye," he nodded. "I 'ad two boys. They were fine men, who did me proud."
"They're dead?" Brijade noted his use of the past tense.
"Aye," Jedrik nodded. "Went with honor though," he told her. "Both of 'em standin' up for who they were and what they believed in." He paused for a moment and Brijade looked at him, surprised to see an almost regretful look in his eyes. "I wasn't much of a father," he continued. "Always chasin' some damn fight or prize. I wasn't even there when either one was born. I didn't see the second one until 'e was damned near a full summer old. They loved me, though," he smiled at her. "When I'd go 'ome, they'd run to meet me and want to 'ear all about where I'd been."
Brijade smiled at him. "Turned their ears black and curled their hair, huh?"
Jedrik chuckled. "Aye, the oldest one's 'air was curled so tight ye couldn't get a comb through it."
Brijade laughed, then turned when Nahtan and Asher galloped past, Nahtan motioning for them to head back to the front.
"No sign of the thief," Jedrik noted as they turned their horses to follow them to the front.
"I'm sure she'll turn up," Brijade said. "Nahtan doesn't like to let her out of his sight for too long."
It took several minutes to reach the front of the procession again. Brijade missed Essian's powerful gallop all the more now, the regular horse she was using no comparison to the Dweller's stallion. Even now, three days later, her head still hurt at times from having him ripped away from their bond with his sudden death in battle.
Aralt still held the lead, with Asher's oldest son and daughter riding next to him. Calan and Kenah came up on the other side, catching up at about the same time as Brijade and Jedrik. They had just fallen in behind Nahtan and Asher when Nahtan lifted the falcon from his saddle and let the giant bird take flight.
It was only a few minutes later when Nahtan shook his head.
"Garren and Korrie are way in the back, behind Lady Caya's wagon," he said. He muttered a curse. It was obvious he was using the falcon to look for them. "Judging by how late they joined the army and how they're acting, I'd say she convinced him to stay in her room last night."
"Nahtan," Brijade said. She knew she was risking raising his temper by saying something, but hoped their friendship would keep him from getting too upset with her. "You were Garren's age when you and Rena were together and Rena was pregnant with Valry." She knew he was trying to look out for his younger brother, and might not realize that the young man was old enough
to make decisions on his own. He might not be making the best decisions, but part of growing up was also making mistakes and learning from them. Since joining them at Edgewind, Garren had proven himself to be fairly level headed and eager to become part of their world, and Brijade knew he looked up to Nahtan.
Nahtan glanced back at her and frowned. "That was different," he told her.
"How?" Brijade asked him. "Because it was you and not him?"
"Rena wasn't a thief and troublemaker," Nahtan shot back at her.
"Just the daughter of a BishopLord."
Nahtan turned and glared at her. "We'll finish this discussion later," he promised her.
"Yes, we will," Brijade returned, not backing down. She noticed Jedrik's deliberate stare at her, but ignored him. She wasn't about to let Nahtan turn his temper on Garren now, too. If they had to beat it out of each other that night at camp, then she'd make sure to get her point across to him.
"Did you have need of Miss Korrie?" Calan asked Nahtan. "Or were you just doing your usual check on her?"
"She's about to start earning my forgiveness," Nahtan told Calan. "So yes, I need her."
"What do you need her to do?" Calan asked next. "I'll run the message back to her for you."
Nahtan glanced back at him. "She's to ride ahead and get into Basiyr," Nahtan ordered. "And find out how big Thorvald's army is there."
"That sounds better suited for a spy than a thief," Zara commented. Asher's oldest daughter had proven to be a capable fighter in the battle below the plateau, as had Ehren, his oldest son. Nahtan'd had no objections to them accompanying the armies to Basiyr.
"Not if it also involves stealing any battle plans she finds laying around," Nahtan told her.
Calan considered what Nahtan was asking. "Your brother is not likely to stay behind," he said carefully. "And though Garren's training is certainly progressing at an impressive rate and he's showing a lot of skill, he doesn't have the refined experience that might be necessary to get them out of any problems. Would Your Majesty object to me accompanying them?"
Basiyr: Chronicles of Nahtan: Book 6 (The Herridon Chronicles) Page 2