“What?”
“Yes. I need you to use your magic when Rendal gets here. New Perth needs you to. I do. Mason does. We all do.”
Riley laughed in shock and quickly clamped her mouth shut. What Goland was asking made no sense. “I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. Just do it again.”
Riley laughed, unable to help herself. “Your Grace, I don’t know how I did that. I don’t have the first clue. I was in danger. William was in danger. It just happened.”
The Prefect leaned back in his chair, his smile fading. “This isn’t good.”
“What do you mean?”
As she asked the question, a voice boomed from outside. It spread across the entire city of New Perth and Riley jumped to her feet, reaching for the sword she still didn’t have. She stared out the window, a chill growing in her stomach at what she saw.
An army.
Outside New Perth’s gates.
“Prefect and good people of New Perth, I bring greetings from my master Rendal Hemmons. He has a demand, and in his graciousness, will spare all of your lives if that demand is met. Prefect Ire, come to your gates and recognize my master’s grace.”
The Prefect stood much slower than Riley. He turned to the window and then to Riley. “Recognize them?”
“Oh, yeah. The one who’s talking is a jackass, and from what I can tell from here, he’s brought a lot of other jackasses with him.”
“Jackasses are good for tilling soil. Let’s go down there and remind them of that, shall we?”
The purple robe was new so it didn’t move as easily as the other had, Riley noted. She worried briefly about wearing it in battle, where even a tenth of a second could mean life or death.
She strapped her sheath to her side, then slid her sword in. Riley had inspected the sword the moment it was in front of her, and it looked perfect. Everything else in this world might fall away, including New Perth if the mage had his way, but her sword would survive.
“I didn’t think it was possible, but you’re even skinnier now.”
Riley turned around. William stood in the doorway.
“Looks like you lost some weight too. I might not be able to call you chubby anymore. You think you’re still strong enough to fight?”
“Strong enough to kick your ass.” William came through the doorway but stopped before he reached her. Riley thought he wanted to grab her and hug her, but he didn’t. That wasn’t his way. Instead, he stuck his hand out. “Thank you. I mean it.”
She smiled. “You’re going soft, but you’re welcome. I’d do it a thousand times, and I mean that too.”
The two shook hands, his giant one enveloping hers.
“Let’s go see what this fucker downstairs wants,” William declared.
“It doesn’t look like Rendal came with him.” Riley double-checked her bed, making sure she had everything, then turned, following William to the door.
“I doubt he can do much of anything after the burn you gave him. Prefect Ire was mighty happy to hear about it.”
The two started down the stairs.
“He wasn’t nearly as happy when I told him I couldn’t do it again.”
“What do you mean, you can’t do it again?” William asked as they wound downward.
“Is everyone in this castle... Well, everyone besides Prefect Ire... Well, actually, are you an idiot? Do you think I practice magic in my spare time? Sit around conjuring spells or whatever other nonsense those mages do?”
“I don’t know whatcha do. You don’t practice your sword work enough, I can tell you that, or else we wouldn’t have had to use magic. I was fending off about ten men by myself. Just fine, I might add.”
Riley caught the slight smirk on his face as he continued, “You couldn’t handle one mage until you used magic, so what I’m thinkin’ is that you’re going to need to figure that shit out if you’re to survive this.”
Riley could have kicked him down the stairs, but at the same time, she was glad to hear him joking with her.
“You know I saved your ass, William.”
He laughed. “Perhaps, but don’t tell anybody.”
They made their way to the front of the castle where the Prefect was waiting for them. He’d briefly told Riley where Mason was—gone to find mages. Riley’s first thought had of course been had been to follow him, but she knew that wouldn’t help anyone.
“The army is ready?” Prefect Ire asked.
“Yes, Your Grace,” both Right Hands responded.
“Let’s go meet the mercenary.”
The three mounted their horses, with the Prefect taking the center. As they walked through toward the outer gates, people lined the road, their eyes full of fear. Riley knew nothing like this had ever happened to them before. No army had ever come to New Perth making demands.
This was new.
This was frightening.
And they didn’t even know the half of it.
Riley kept her face determined, which was the only thing she could give these people right now. A look that said, “I will win. I will defeat any man who tries to cross our borders.”
Archers lined the walls, all of them looking outward. Preliminary counts put the number of men outside the walls at two hundred. It wasn’t a large army, but that wasn’t the point. A force was here, and more was coming. Might already be coming.
Rendal had cloaked his army from the scouts New Perth had sent. They would have had to literally run into one of the soldiers to know they were there. Another ten thousand could be stationed a mile away, and no one would know.
They reached the tall stone gates, which opened slowly, the machinery creaking in protest as the stone swung. They stood a hundred feet tall, dwarfing even William.
The three walked ten feet beyond the walls, Prefect Ire in front.
Riley wished Mason were here next to his father, yet part of her was glad he wasn’t facing this danger.
He has his own danger, she thought. And I mine, so I have to pay attention to the army in front of me.
Hundreds of men stood before her, the sun beating down on them all. Riley was sweating, and her head still hurting.
Harold—she remembered his name—stood in front, flanked on either side by men Riley didn’t recognize.
Prefect Ire led the way over the bare ground, their horses kicking up dust behind them.
Let those archers be ready, Riley prayed as she approached Harold and his two sidekicks.
“Right Hand Trident, Right Hand Teller, pleasure to see you both again.” Harold stopped his horse. Although Riley and William had lost weight, Harold was still hulking. He looked even bigger now, despite the hard four-day trip he’d just made. “Prefect Ire, well met. My name is Harold, and I serve Rendal Hemmons, who I’m sure you’re aware was once a citizen of this city.”
“I know Rendal.” The Prefect spat on the ground. “I also know that if you and your army don’t remove yourselves, Rendal and the rest of you will be at war with New Perth. The archers you see behind me will lay you all out, and the vultures will be picking your bones by nightfall.”
Harold chuckled. “As tempting as that sounds, I hope that it doesn’t come to war. My master wishes peace, although, like everything, it has a price.”
“Peace has no price,” the Prefect replied.
Riley and William were quiet. Riley’s sword remained in its sheath, although William held his. His knuckles were white.
“Our peace does,” Harold responded. “It’s quite simple. My master wants the woman to your left, Right Hand Trident. He says that if you willingly give her up, he will leave New Perth alone. You will have your peace. He only wishes her to come back with us to our compound.”
“I’ll come back with you!” William shouted, hopping off his horse and forgetting all about etiquette. “I’ll come back and cut you all to fucking pieces!”
“Right Hand!” Prefect Ire shouted. “To me!”
William stopped, although Riley could see the effort
it took.
Harold smiled down at him. “Go, dog. Your owner calls.”
Riley almost spun off her horse at that moment. It was a great honor for the Prefect to command a person in such a way, to trust that he will listen to his words no matter what because his duty to him is that strong. And this man besmirched that honor.
William backed up, although he didn’t take his eyes off Harold.
“So, Goland Ire.” Harold looked at the Prefect. “What’s it going to be? Give me the woman, and your city can have peace.”
“We’re done here.” Prefect Ire turned his horse and started back toward the gates.
“Hiya, pretty,” the man next to Harold commented. “Why don’t you come back with us? I’ll give you a good time before I give you to the boss.”
Riley hadn’t truly had time to consider exactly what these cretins were asking, but she considered that proposition loud and clear.
“Why don’t you come take me right now, and we’ll see who has a good time?”
The man looked at Harold, who only shrugged. The man hopped off his horse.
Riley glanced at the Prefect. He’d stopped and was looking at the two of them. “No. We are done here.”
Riley turned back to the man on the ground. “Remember me. I’ll be the last face you ever see.”
She whipped her horse around, and the three marched back into the gates.
“They’re not leaving,” William said.
The three of them were in the Prefect’s quarters. His head general, Verith, stood at the edge of the room. People came and went, passing messages to the general, but he’d said nothing so far. Riley knew he would interrupt when he needed to, but for now, he was leaving the discussion to the Right Hands and Ire.
The army had set up camp outside, and fires burned in the darkness beyond the gates.
To Riley, it looked like tiny dots of hell across the landscape.
“They think we’re going to give her up,” Goland remarked.
“They’ll be waiting a long time, then. I’m not very fond of skinny over there, but I sure as hell ain’t giving her up to them.” William stepped away from the window and walked to the middle of the room, looking as if he wanted to do something, but he didn’t know what.
Riley had been silent. The “her” they were talking about was, as everyone knew, Riley, but she hadn’t commented. She’d been thinking, though. Almost constantly.
“Why not?” she asked.
“Why not what?” William whirled.
The Prefect looked at her. “Yes. Why not what?”
“Why not give me to them? If it keeps New Perth safe, then that’s my role. That’s what I signed up for—to serve at all costs, including my life. Why not give me up and keep everyone here safe?”
“Father and Mother, she’s lost her mind!” William shouted, starting to pace.
“Well, for one, because Mason would castrate me when he returns,” the Prefect said. “Although that’s beside the point. We’re not giving you up, not for peace nor world domination. You took an oath to New Perth, and it also took an oath to you not to betray you. You have stood by your oath, and we will stand by ours.”
“Then what do we do, Your Grace? Wait until Rendal gets here and lays waste to the city?”
William stopped walking. “Do you hear yourself? You’re mad! You go with them, and they’ll do unspeakable things! Unspeakable!”
“Oh, chubby, since when has anything been unspeakable to you?”
“You know what I’m saying!”
Riley turned back to the Prefect. “I’m willing to go, Your Grace. If it helps the city, I’ll consider it my honor to go.”
“No, and that’s the last I’ll hear of it. This is actually working in our favor.” He looked at Verith. “Tell them.”
“They’re wasting time by doing this. Had they attacked with magic immediately it would have been a harder fight. Scouts have brought back word that Mason will reach us in two days, and he has strangers with him. If he’s brought mages, Rendal’s bargain will seem foolish when war comes.”
Mason, Riley thought, her heart soaring despite the terror outside the city walls.
He was safe. He’d be here soon. That was what mattered.
“Listen,” Prefect Ire said, “I’m growing tired. Verith, there’s a constant watch on them, right?”
“Yes, Your Grace. Any movement, and you’ll be notified immediately.”
“Then I’m going to sleep. I don’t think war is coming tonight, and most likely not until Rendal shows up. You two need more rest than I do. Go to sleep, and tomorrow we’ll resume planning.”
William and Riley left, knowing that the old Prefect needed to go to bed. They made their way up to their quarters, but William stopped at her door.
“Don’t do anything stupid, skinny. You understand me? You may find that man earlier today attractive, but we need you here, not waltzing around with him outside.”
“Chubby, do you think you’ll lose me to the first man who shows up and says he wants to rape me? Sorry, but you’re stuck with me as long as the Prefect says so.”
He stared at her for a second longer. Riley wasn’t sure if he believed she wasn’t going to do something stupid.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” he told her.
“Not if I see you first.”
“Keep it up, and you’ll see whatever is beneath your window when I toss you out of it.”
“Yeah, yeah. Goodnight, William.”
He left Riley alone in her room. She shut the door behind him and sighed, her left hand immediately beginning to shake.
She’d told him and the Prefect that she wasn’t going to do anything stupid, and that’d been the first lie she’d ever told either one.
She was definitely about to do something stupid.
The most stupid thing she’d ever done, or would ever do.
Riley had tried to get Goland’s permission, but he wouldn’t give it. So, she was going to defy his wishes. Riley was going outside the city walls and letting those bastards take her wherever they wanted.
If it would give New Perth peace, she had no other choice.
Harold was partially awake, although his chin kept falling to his chest. The fire in front of him burned hot, and that was adding to his sleepiness.
He was waiting on those idiotic New Perthians to hand over the woman. He couldn’t actually believe they’d risk war over one person, even one as skilled as she. Granted, there was probably the thought lurking in the back of the Prefect’s mind that if he did this once, he’d do it forever. Another group would show up demanding something, and he’d have to give in.
Harold thought it a possibility, but a remote one.
New Perth wasn’t going to be attacked by anyone else, and if the Prefect had a lick of sense, he’d understand that.
So Harold waited. He wanted to go back with the Right Hand...and he wanted some time alone with her. Not for anything sexual, but because he wanted to know the truth. Was she more powerful? Should he pledge himself to her?
Harold waited.
It was well past midnight, Harold’s head having finally come to rest on his chest when she spoke.
“Hey. Wake up.”
Harold’s head snapped up, and he found himself staring at the woman. The hood over her head hid most of her face, although the fire’s light revealed some features. Her sword was at her side, and she wore all black, including gloves.
She looks like a damned thief, he thought as he struggled to get to his feet. His own sword was on the ground, and he grabbed it on the way up.
She could have slit my throat right there.
Yet she hadn’t. The Right Hand stood without moving.
“I’ll go with you. Right now. You pack up your army, and we head north. You give me your word that if I do this, Rendal will keep away from New Perth?”
Harold wanted to laugh. His word. There was no word here, only the master’s rule.
“You have my w
ord.”
“Okay. Can Rendal see me right now?”
Harold’s eyebrows raised. “Can he? Yes, I’m sure he can. The master’s sight has no bounds. The question is, is he looking at you?”
“I don’t understand magic, but if he sees me now, can he hear me?”
Harold nodded. “Yes, if he’s looking, he can hear too.”
“Then he needs to shield us. Or rather, he needs to make it look like you’re still here, all these fires are still burning. They’re watching up on the walls, and if they see you leave, they’ll come looking for me. If your master wants me, he’ll have to make sure they think you’re still here.”
Harold understood what she was saying, but he wasn’t too concerned about it. Harold had hitched his horse to the master because the master was powerful and smart. Shielding them was Rendal’s business, and he trusted Rendal to handle it.
His was bringing this woman back.
As was making sure no one saw that his loyalty was in question, at least until he knew his next move.
“I’m positive that he’ll take care of it.”
The Right Hand stared at him for another second and then nodded. “Let’s go, then.”
“First, tell me why? I can usually smell a trap, but I don’t smell anything with you. You came of your own accord. Why?”
“Because I’m not going to let the good people of New Perth die so that I might live. You’re a bunch of psychopathic pricks, but I’d rather you have me than everyone in there.”
Harold shrugged. “I wish I could say I admire your nobility, but I don’t. It’s moronic. However, this is good news for me. Go ahead and take that sword off, dear.”
The Right Hand’s eyes widened for a split second, and Harold recognized that look.
Losing her sword was like losing an appendage.
This woman was a true warrior, and he’d do well to remember it. Harold thought if he forgot it for even a second, he might lose his nutsack.
Riley pulled at the belt on her waist, and it started falling. Her hand was lightning quick, grabbing the sword hilt and holding it. The sheath and belt fell to the ground, but the sword remained in her hand, not falling with them.
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