by B N Miles
“Please, sit down,” Cam said, gesturing at the bench next to him.
Brice hesitated then looked at the Warden. She gestured for a cup then took a seat next to Cam, her back straight, her straight blade rattling against the bench.
“I’m actually glad you found me,” Cam said as the Warden put a cup in front of Brice.
“Are you?” Brice sipped it and gave him a look. “I have a feeling you’re putting me to work already.”
“I am,” Cam said, “but I wouldn’t if I didn’t think you could handle it.”
“And what do you know about what I can handle?”
“I saw you fight. You’re good with a sword, good in that armor. Better with the armor off, though.”
Cam thought he saw a hint of red grace her cheeks.
“What do you need me to do?” she asked.
“There’s a man from Medlar village named Arter,” Cam said. “He leads a group that was imprisoned in the wolf pens. I need you to find him and his people and get them armed and armored. They’re going to be my personal guard.”
Theus choked on his beer. “Arter’s going to be your personal guard? I thought that old shit hated your guts.”
Cam nodded and sipped his drink. “I thought so too, but apparently he changed his mind after I saved his life.”
“Well, this really is a crazy time,” Theus said.
“Can you handle that for me, Brice?” Cam asked, looking back at her.
She nodded once. “Of course,” she said.
“I’m also going to need information on the army itself. How many men, how many weapons, food and supplies, everything you can find.”
Her eyes narrowed again. “Maybe that would be better coming from a Warden,” she said.
“I don’t trust the Wardens.”
She glanced back at the half-sleeping man standing near the beer then looked at Cam. “Probably smart,” she said. “Dore is close with Remorn.”
“Delegate these jobs as you see fit,” Cam said. “But I’ll need your help.”
She stared at him, her eyes hard for a few beats. “You really intend on taking charge.”
“I do,” Cam said.
“And then what? We marched out once, and it didn’t go well.”
“You didn’t have me leading things.”
“No, but we had multiple shaman,” she said. “Now we just have you.”
“Don’t forget Sirrin,” Cam said.
“Sirrin is useless.” Brice let out a sharp breath. “But we don’t have much of a choice, do we?”
“We really don’t,” Cam said.
“I’ll do what I can then,” Brice said, drinking the rest of her beer down in several large gulps. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve and leaned closer to Cam. “But you should be careful while we’re still here. I’ve been hearing rumors.”
“What kind of rumors?”
“About Remorn. He’s not finished, you know. There are still those within the army that are loyal to him and always will be.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Cam said. “And I take it you’re loyal to me now?”
She gave him a small half-smile. “Not yet,” she said. “But I’m getting there.”
“Good. Get there faster. And come see me more often without that armor.
She stared into her empty cup then stood. “If you’re lucky, maybe I will,” she said, then turned and stalked off.
Cam watched her go, a smile on his lips.
“She likes you,” Theus said. “Which is kind of terrifying.”
“No kidding,” Cam said.
“But you like that, don’t you? Strong women are kind of your thing.”
“Damn right.”
Theus sighed, finished his beer. “General Theus,” he said, mostly to himself. “I’m going to have to get used to that.”
Cam laughed and patted the table. “You will. Enjoy yourself today, Theus. Tomorrow, we’re getting to work.”
“Yes, sir,” Theus said, snapping a salute and grinning.
Cam smiled back, stood up, and strode across the room. A few of the men watched him go, and he couldn’t tell if they gave him suspicious, angry glares or simply watched him leave.
He took a lamp off a peg and stepped out into the smoky hall.
“Cam!”
His name echoed off the stone. He half turned. “I won’t get a break today,” he said to himself.
“What was that?” Gwedi strode toward him, the Elf woman’s long red hair flowing behind her. She glared around at the Humans like they were dogs who might bite at any second.
“Nothing,” Cam said. “What can I do for you, Gwedi?”
“Haesar wants to speak with you,” she said.
“Right now?”
“Yes,” she said, one hand on her hip, the other resting on the pommel of her curved Elven sword. “Right now, if you please.”
“All right then,” he said. “And it’s lovely to see you, Gwedi. You’re looking well.”
She gave him a flat look. “Come with me,” she said.
“After you. I do so love the view.”
She made a disgusted face, turned, and walked off.
Cam laughed to himself. Gwedi hated his guts, and sometimes it was just too easy to tease her.
He followed her through the halls and into the deepening mountain gloom.
9
Cam followed Gwedi into a chamber set deep into the western wing of the Mansion. The room glowed orange from lamps and sounds echoed off the rough stone walls.
Haesar sat behind a long wooden table. Scrolls, parchment, papers, and maps were spread out in front of him. The Elf Lord sat forward, hunched and bent, as his fingers scanned over a line of text.
“Lord,” Gwedi said, stopping in front of the desk. “I brought the shaman.”
Haesar looked up. His light eyes sparkled. He gestured for Gwedi to take a seat at the side of the table and tilted his head.
“Thank you for coming, Camrus,” he said.
“Of course,” Cam said. “I’ve been meaning to meet with you.”
Haesar gestured at the chair across from him. Cam lingered, eyes moving over the papers, then pulled it back and sat. He adjusted himself until his sword fell comfortably to the side.
“How has my daughter been?” Haesar asked.
Cam forced himself not to grimace. That wasn’t the sort of question he wanted to hear.
“She’s doing well,” Cam said. “She’s more or less taken charge.”
Haesar gave him a tight smile. The Elf Lord looked like a man of thirty, lean and fit. He wore emerald jewelry at his throat, a heavy cloak draped down his back, and intricate leather armor. His light-yellow hair was pulled back into a tight braid and wrapped into a bun at the back of his skull.
“Just as I expected her to,” he said. “Miuri isn’t the kind to sit idly by.”
“No, she isn’t,” Cam agreed.
Gwedi snorted from her seat and crossed her arms.
“Congratulations are in order, however,” Haesar said. “Your new wife, Galla Remorn. She’s an interesting match.”
“She is,” Cam said. “Just so you know, Miuri approved of it. I went to her first, and—”
Haesar smiled and waved hand. “No need to explain,” he said. “Marriage is not something our people practice.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Haesar laughed, low and rich, then leaned back in his chair. He inspected Cam like a soldier on parade.
“How much of the assassination did you plan?” he asked.
Cam felt something grip his throat. Fear spiked, peaked, subsided. He took a breath to steady himself before answering.
“I didn’t plan any of it,” Cam said.
“But someone did,” Haesar said, “don’t try and deny it. I’ve been meeting with Lord Remorn, and I’ve gotten to know him well. An assassin in the night is not his style.”
“I can’t speak to his style,” Cam said.
Haesar let out ano
ther laugh, bitter and short this time. “You’ve made enemies now, Camrus, but we don’t need more of those. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I hope I do as well.” Cam sat up straight, hoping his posture would hide his uncertainty.
Lamplight dimmed and flickered. Haesar’s chair creaked as he leaned forward again.
“Now that you’re in command of the Mansion’s military, we need to discuss our plans,” Haesar said.
Cam leaned forward to study the pages on the table. “I agree,” he said. “I don’t have exact figures or accounting of our strength just yet, but I’m working on it.”
“Good,” Haesar said. “The sooner you can marshal your forces, the better. We need to leave the Mansion, and we need to do it as soon as possible.”
Cam touched the table top. Gwedi’s breath came out short and sharp.
“Why?” Cam asked.
“The wolves are coming,” Haesar said. “Slowly but surely. They’re carving a path through this valley, intent on bringing their numbers to bear on us here. If we end up trapped inside the Mansion, we’ll be fighting a defensive battle, and defensive battles are never good.”
Cam considered. “If they came here, we’d have the defenses of the Mansion. But we’d also be trapped within its walls, unable to maneuver.”
“Exactly,” Haesar said, and turned a map toward him.
The vellum was old and yellowed. Lines were drawn in curving, graceful black ink. Land was shaded green, water shaded blue. It took up half the table and had more detail than Cam had ever seen.
“This is an old map,” Haesar said, “but it’s still accurate. The Mansion is here, and the bulk of the wolves are here.” He jabbed his finger at a point midway down the valley.
Cam studied the landmarks. He tried to picture trees instead of green marks. “We could meet them here,” Cam said, pointing at a position at the base of the switchbacks.
“I was thinking along those lines as well,” Haesar said. “We’d be at the top of the slope, close enough that we could retreat to the Mansion, but deep enough that we could still maneuver as necessary.”
“But the wolves are close,” Cam said. “Why haven’t they pushed closer?”
“I believe they’re worried.” Haesar rapped a knuckle on the table. “When you freed the army, I believe you scored a vicious blow. They’ve been in disarray ever since.”
“The packs are fighting?” Cam asked.
“They were. Order was restored, but it cost time and energy.”
“So they’re regrouping.” Cam nodded, eyes moving along the map. “And the longer we give them, the stronger they’ll be.”
Haesar nodded, his face ponderous. “Again, that is my thinking.”
Footsteps from outside echoed down the halls. Voices drifted along the stone. Cam smelled cooking from a nearby room.
“I don’t know how quickly I can put things in order,” Cam said. “I’m already coming against resistance.”
“And that resistance won’t stop.” Haesar took the map and turned it around to face him again. “Lord Remorn won’t let this pass.”
“I know it,” Cam said.
“Are you prepared to take it all the way?”
Cam tilted his head and studied Haesar. He had a hard time reading the Elf, but thought he saw genuine concern.
“I’m prepared to do what’s necessary,” Cam said. “I’ve come this far. If I turn back, nobody will benefit.”
“Good,” Haesar said. “You will have my support, for what that’s worth.”
Cam bowed his head. “I would appreciate that.”
“Do what must be done,” Haesar said. “The fate of this region will be decided these next few days. I fear that if we don’t march soon, the wolves will be too much.”
“We’ll march,” Cam said and pushed back his chair.
He stood. His shadow played on the far wall. Gwedi mirrored him, her movements smooth and graceful.
“I will be here, in this room,” Haesar said. “Send word if I’m needed.”
“Thank you.” Cam inclined his head again, turned, and walked to the door.
Gwedi followed him into the hall. Children darted between them, a skinny little girl cackling as she chased after a pudgy toddler.
“He’s taking a chance on you,” Gwedi said as they walked.
“I know,” Cam said.
“You flipped this Mansion on its head and people haven’t had a chance to decide which way is up yet,” she said. “And now my Lord is trusting that you can figure it all out before it’s too late.”
“I know,” Cam said again.
Gwedi turned to him, her eyes flint-sharp. “Don’t let him down,” she said.
“I don’t plan on it.”
“But you will.”
Cam stepped toward her, forcing her to take a step back. She bumped against the stone wall. He leaned toward her, feeling his anger spike.
“Why are you so against me?”
The children came again. The little girl held the toddler in her arms, who laughed as she rounded the corner and disappeared into a room.
“Because you’re like all the others,” she said, her face pulled into a sneer.
“How?” Cam asked. “You barely know me.”
“You’re Human,” she said. “That’s all I need to know.”
Cam put up his hands. “Why do you hate Humans so much? We’ve done nothing to you. We’ve done—”
“You have no clue,” Gwedi said, stepping forward. She came within inches of Cam’s face. He didn’t blink or back down. “You’ve been alive for a single breath. I’ve been choking on air forever. I’ve seen what Humans can do when they put their mind to it, seen them kill, slaughter, maim, destroy. You think Humans have done nothing to me? Humans have taken more than their fair share, and don’t deserve any of it.”
She breathed deep and hard. Her eyes sparkled in anger. Cam wanted to reach out and touch her smooth cheek.
“I’m sorry for what Humans did to you in the past,” he said. “Whatever it was, I know you didn’t deserve it.”
She snorted. “I don’t need your apologies.”
“But it seems like you do. We’re going to work together, Gwedi, whether you like it or not. If you keep acting like I’m the enemy, then we’ll never be able to get anything done. You heard Haesar in there.”
She opened her mouth. Her tongue ran over her white teeth. She bit down and took a breath, closing her eyes.
“I know you’re right,” she said.
“Then why do you push?”
“Because I’m angry.” She opened her eyes again. “Every time I see you, I’m reminded of him.”
“Of who?”
She turned her head and swept past him. Her shoulder brushed his chest. He hurried to catch up. In the rooms they passed, people cooked, laughed, shared bread, wove thread into cloth, sharpened metal.
“It doesn’t matter,” Gwedi said.
“It does to me. It does if it’ll keep you from helping.”
She kept walking, face forward. Hammers clanged against steel. A man barked a laugh. Someone shouted a name.
“It was a long time ago,” Gwedi said. “Humans came to our village, back before we understood what they wanted. We broke bread, shared drink, made promises. They left and we thought that would be the end of it, until three nights later, they returned and wanted more.”
“Wanted more of what?”
“Steel,” Gwedi said. “Elven metal. Elven weapons. Humans still can’t make metal like we can, and back then, they couldn’t even make your brittle copper and bronze.”
“They came for metal?” Cam shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
“You wouldn’t. Metal was worth more back then, so much more. They came in numbers and we met them in battle the best we could, but they came in the night. They killed women, they killed children. Haesar managed to rout them, but not until the damage was already done. After that, we never treated Humans the same way a
gain.”
Cam was quiet as Gwedi reached an intersection. Lamps burned in both directions. She stopped and faced him, arms wrapped tight across her chest.
“You met bad people,” Cam said. “But that doesn’t mean all Humans are bad.”
“No, they’re not,” Gwedi said. “But they weren’t the last to try and take what we had.”
“I’m sorry that happened.”
“Like I said, I don’t need your apologies.”
“I’m not here to take from you, Gwedi. I’m not here to hurt your people.”
“But plenty of Humans hate us, don’t they?” Her eyes flashed down the hall. Voices dripped out from the rooms. “You see the way they hide, don’t you?”
Cam followed her gaze and realized she was right. In every other wing of the Mansion, people would be out in the halls. But here, they stayed in the rooms.
“People are afraid of what they don’t understand,” Cam said.
“And instead of reacting to that fear with peace, they turn to violence.” Gwedi shook her head, stray hairs flying. “I’ve seen it again and again with your people.”
“They’re trying,” Cam said.
“Not hard enough.”
“What can I do to convince you that we’re on your side?”
“Nothing,” she said, staring at him. “I don’t want your side, or any side. I just want to be left alone.”
“But that’s not the world we live in,” Cam said. “Like it or not, those wolves are coming, and we’re all going to be put to death if we can’t figure this out.”
She dropped her arms and her hand ran along the length of her sword’s pommel.
“That’s the only reason I haven’t left yet,” she said. “You’re not the worst of them, Cam. But there are those among your people that would gladly see all the Elves put to death alongside the Wolves.”
“They don’t speak for everyone.”
“But they might.” She shook her head. “I’ll do what I can to help this fight. I’ll obey my master and follow orders. But you can’t expect me to set aside everything I know about Humans. I’ve made that mistake before, and I won’t make it again.”
She turned, her fist gripping her pommel, and walked down a long, twisting passage. Cam watched her go, her lamp dipping as she walked.
She was right about a lot of that. He knew there was a vocal group of Humans that mistrusted all godlings and would like to see them all dead. But that was a fringe, a minority, a violent and dangerous minority, but still a small foolish group. What happened to Gwedi and her people was awful, but it was also a long time ago, and Cam refused to be blamed for the actions of people long dead.