Page 8 of Ensii
Talitha agreed. “If we take a group down through the central avenue, and send another to circle the edge of the palace, we can route them from two directions.”
Ashek nodded. The bleeding from his forearm had mostly slowed to a slow drip. “If we can arm some of the slaves and you lead us in?” He furrowed his brows in contemplation. “It could work. Kurzik, gather those who are still fit to fight. We need to cleanse our forces first. Finish stripping everyone of their idols and charms. Then attack.”
Talitha ground her teeth.
“We don’t have the time for this.” Shaza shoved closer to Talitha. “Every moment we spend talking is another moment my father knows we aren’t dead—and I’m sure he knows.”
“We cannot win if we bring our trust of Anakti with us into this battle,” Ashek said firmly. He wasn’t dropping the matter.
“I thought you Hudspehites believed said She wasn’t a real goddess?” Gilsazi snapped, irritation showing for the first time in quite a while.
“She isn’t,” Ashek answered flatly. “But Nehemian’s power obviously is.”
Talitha looked to Ashek. One other thing—she was having a magian tend his arm first whether he liked it or not.
Ashek touched her good shoulder. “Do it, Talitha.”
The ensaak inhaled before meeting the incredulous stares of Gilsazi and Shaza. “You heard him. Do as the prophetess has commanded. Finish the purge. And Gilsazi, send a magian here. I need them to heal Ashek.”
“I don’t need—”
Talitha smacked his wounded shoulder and her husband’s words cut off.
He clenched his fist, then opened it again. “You win.”
Gilsazi inclined his head.
“This is ridiculous,” Shaza snapped. “You’re making time for religious purification when my father could be sending more of these things even now?”
“Your father is exactly the reason purification is necessary,” Ashek clipped.
Shaza scoffed. He must see another zealot, another charlatan just like the man who raised him. “Talitha.” He dropped his voice as he used her given name, lowering his head and hunching his shoulders so no one could read his lips. “We don’t have time for this.”
“I have given the order, Shaza.” This time, she wasn’t backing down.
“This is folly!”
“What do you want from me?” Talitha stepped away. “I have given you a command. You should want nothing else.”
Shaza swore, but whirled on his northerners. He shouted several names, including Breida. From her pursed mouth and clenched fists, she appeared to regard the order as worthwhile as he did, but she relayed the order and the northerners began stripping themselves of their talismans and trinkets. In truth, they were far more willing than most of the Ilians. Talitha wasn’t even sure what gods they worshiped, come to think of it.
A magian had not even come to tend Ashek before Zula approached, her grimace telling Talitha all she needed to know even before she spoke.
“A number of the soldiers from the lower city want to keep their tokens,” Zula said. Her tone was as flat and unsympathetic as her face.
“Then they will have to stay behind,” Talitha responded. At her side, she caught Ashek’s nod from the corner of her eye.
“We cannot afford to turn away fighters,” Zula argued. “These are strong warriors who have served you loyally.”
“And for that, I will not force them to part with what they would not. But they can’t join me.”
Zula cursed—something that Talitha had not heard her do for some time—but stormed away to do as she was told.
