Page 79 of Queen Demon
When the sound of sea waves rolling onto the land started to compete with the wind, Amabel appeared out of the high grass near Kai’s horse and whispered, “Kai, it’s just ahead.”
With relief, Kai slid down off his horse, boots squelching inthe damp ground. It snorted and angrily nipped at a fly. “Is anyone there yet?”
“No, but the vanguarder posted here left a sign so I know it’s the right place.” Amabel assured him, “They should be waiting somewhere, watching to make sure it’s us.”
Tangeld came to take Kai’s horse as the others fell into their now accustomed routine for a brief rest. Kai followed Amabel, Salatel and Dahin falling in beside him.
The meeting place was a little distance across the marsh, secluded by high grass and the tumbled stone blocks of what had once been a sea wall or wharf, standing about as high as a tall mortal. Not far past it the sea rolled up the long sandy curve of the beach. “You can see the fort from here,” Amabel said, and started to climb what was left of the wall.
Grass and flowering ground cover had grown up between the stones. Kai climbed easily, shooing away a startled snake. The fort of Dashar was visible in the fast fading light, far enough down the narrow curve of beach that it looked ethereal. It appeared as tall as a miniature mountain in the distance, but Kai knew part of that was the stone mound it stood on. The bridge stretched across the dredged shoreline, more than a hundred paces, according to the Arike map. The waves washed against its stone pillars, the tide casting spray up onto the wooden walkway. The gate and tower that protected the shore end wasn’t visible from here, hidden behind the high curves of the dunes.
Kai had a better view of the front face of the fort itself. It looked larger than the Kagala, its shape more proportional, with a three- or four-story square tower in the center front, rising into two spires like horns.
Amabel handed Kai a distance-glass. “The inside isn’t well defended, from what I’ve heard. The Arike hadn’t used it as a fort for a long time. It was mostly houses for merchant and sailor families and places to store cargo from the ships. The vanguarders said there were rumors the Hierarchs built some palaces in itfor servant-nobles, but they weren’t able to get inside to see for themselves.”
Kai had a copy of an old map of the fort, supplied by Bashasa, but if the interior had changed he wasn’t sure how helpful it would be. He focused the glass and glimpsed the gates, right before the short twilight passed into nightfall. They were tall and ironbound, but the walls to either side had the distinctive decoration of carved figures that the Arike liked to put on their large buildings. The faces of many had been bashed in, though that just made the wall easier to scale. Not that anyone should have to. Bashasa had firepowder to blow the gates open.
Kai handed back the distance-glass and they started to climb down. “The harbor is behind it?”
“Yes, a very large one,” Amabel said. “There’s no wall on that side, it’s open to the docks. Descar-arik is on the far side of the harbor.”
Back in the sheltered hollow, Amabel paused to light a tiny shaded lamp, giving them just enough light to see. The air was damp and warm, fragrant from the flowering grass, and chirping insects fled the light. Salatel kept watch just below the wall, and Dahin sat down on a fallen block. He looked preoccupied, rubbing his arms as if comforting himself. Kai sat next to him and nudged him with an elbow. “Are you all right?”
“Hmm? Oh, it’s fine.” Dahin put his hands on his knees and took a sharp breath. “We’re very close to the fort, aren’t we?”
“You can see it from the top of the wall,” Kai told him. Dahin had been quiet much of the day, as if thinking things over. Kai hoped it was a good sign but was fairly certain it wasn’t.
This was proved right when Dahin said, “Did Tahren send me to you to get rid of me?”
Kai didn’t laugh at the dramatic phrasing, though it was an effort. When he and Dahin had first met in the Summer Halls, they had probably seemed about the same age. According to Enna’s father, she had always looked younger than her actualyears. He said, “This is a safer position and you’ll stay here when we go into battle. She hasn’t been hiding you from the Blessed and the Hierarchs just to get you killed now.”
“It was a trick, because she didn’t trust me to stay with the supply train.” Dahin’s voice was deeply offended. “Being sent to you made me feel like I’d have a chance of being useful. But this was just a way to keep me from annoying her.”
Kai could tell from Salatel’s body language she had just rolled her eyes. He agreed, but didn’t let his voice show it. “‘Annoying’ is an interesting way to describe seeing your sibling killed in front of you.”
“I want to help,” Dahin said, his voice low and intense. “It’s not fair that I should be here and not risk myself like everyone else. Especially because I’m a Blessed. She should either send me away with the other children or let me help!”
Kai hid a wince by looking toward the tumbled wall. Dahin was right, his position here was privileged though he did his best to mitigate that by working where he could in the supply train.
Then Salatel whispered, “Someone’s coming.” Amabel walked out to the break in the wall, then returned a moment later with another person. They said, “This is vanguarder Ilanu.”
She was an Arike woman, gray threaded through her dark curly hair, and her face was weary. Her brown and gray tunic and pants were stained and torn in spots, her coat threadbare. There were bruises on her hands, standing out against her brown skin.
Amabel brought her over to the light, gesturing for her to sit down. Salatel stayed in her position on the wall, warily alert for anyone else approaching.
Amabel named each of them in turn, and added, “Kaiisteron Fourth Prince captains this force.”
Ilanu seemed a little disconcerted. “The force is all Witches?”
“Plus Kai’s Arike cadre,” Dahin answered before anyone else could. “And I’m a Lesser Blessed.”
Kai said, “You have news?”
Ilanu put aside her astonishment and said, “Bad news. The Hierarch arrived yesterday.”
It was like a slap in the face. Kai forced himself not to react, not to curse. Amabel made a pained noise, Dahin drew in a sharp breath, and Salatel shifted uneasily. Kai swallowed down his first burst of panic and made his voice stay even as he asked, “Are you certain?”
Ilanu’s expression was too worn and exhausted to be anything but certain. “I saw a barge with two escort ships, about a legion’s worth of troops between them. The barge had two decks, dozens of rowers, gilt on the carving, red curtains hanging everywhere. I didn’t see it dock, or who came ashore, but a few days beforehand they brought in a work crew from the camps outside Descar-arik and made them build what looked like a bridge from the fort’s wharf. I couldn’t tell what it was for. Seeing the barge, I think it was a special dock, so the Hierarch didn’t have to walk on boards fouled by the likes of us.” She hesitated. “Or the likes of me, I mean.”
