“What other horses remain in town?”
“None,” the soldier replied. “They were all kept here. They made us get rid of our own horses as well. We just got the order. We were supposed to eliminate any means for you to escape by land.”
“There have to be outlying farms with livestock,” Aram said.
“Sure, here and there. Nothing close.”
Jasher, Farfalee, and Nia had already led the three remaining horses from their stalls. Thag had run past Corinne to watch the far door. Fet guarded the near door. Del knelt beside Zoo, leaning in close and feeling her neck. “She’s gone,” the drinling said, rising to help saddle the horses.
Jason looked at Zoo lying motionless. She had been so alive just moments ago. Another casualty from a lurker. Another fallen friend. When would it end?
“There has to be some mount you spared,” Aram insisted. “Do you have a commander?”
“Captain Finley and Morgan the mercenary are currently astride their mounts,” the man said. “That’s all. You’re lucky to have three. We knew you were coming. We were making quick work of it.”
“Jason, Corinne, and Farfalee will ride,” Jasher said. “They have to get away. The rest of us can fan out, head into the wilderness on foot, try to find our own mounts and catch up.”
“I don’t like it,” Farfalee said. “We’ll be too vulnerable.”
“We’ll be at your heels,” Nia said. “Drinlings can keep up with horses over long distances. We can’t outpace a gallop, but we can run day and night without tiring, eating as we go.”
Jason moved toward one of the horses. Corinne stood beside another, looking a little shell-shocked.
“Where is your commander?” Aram asked the soldier under his boot.
“What am I?” the man complained. “An oracle? I suppose he’s managing the defense of the waterfront.”
“The horses may not have strayed far,” Farfalee said. “Once away from the lurker, they could have slowed. We should go after them together.”
“Some of us could ride double,” Jason suggested. “Especially if it’s just until we find more horses.”
Farfalee nodded eagerly. “What if Jason and Corinne shared a mount? Jasher could join me, and Aram could take the third, just until we see if we can catch up to some of the scattered horses. We could bring extra bridles.”
“Those ships are bringing more troops than we can handle,” Jasher said. “You should get away while you can.”
“Those ships could also be used to—”
Jasher interrupted Farfalee by placing a finger on her lips. He nodded at the soldier on the floor. “We should wait before getting too specific.”
Jason looked at the man on the ground. His wide eyes lacked focus. His face gleamed with sweat.
“Are we finished with him?” Farfalee asked.
“Anything else to tell us?” Aram questioned.
The man licked his lips, eyes anxious. “Can’t believe that girl killed a darkling. That’s a sight I never expected to see. Quick as a rock viper, that one.”
Crouching, Aram clenched both arms in a snug hold around the soldier’s head and neck. The soldier soon went boneless. “He’ll stay that way for some time,” Aram promised.
“The ships in pursuit could shuttle soldiers ahead of us,” Farfalee continued. “Anyone watching the Valiant could tell we wanted to go north. If we escape from here, they might head us off. We need warriors who can help us fight our way through ambushes, and we need woodsmen who can help us avoid them.”
“Fine,” Jasher said, lighting a strand of luminescent seaweed. “It will be hard to track the horses in the dark, but not impossible. If it comes to it, you three ride ahead.”
“We need to move,” Aram said.
“Are you all right?” Jason asked as Corinne mounted up behind him.
“Better than the lurker,” she replied.
“That was amazing.”
“I could feel its mind,” she said. “Just like Father taught me. The concentration was tiring, but it could hide nothing. Even at the start I knew it would raise its arms and scare the horses right before it did. With it tracking us, I knew we’d never get away. Since it had no weapons, I decided to take a chance.”
“Incoming soldiers,” Fet warned from his position by the door. “Four. Wait, four and a rider.”
Having collected extra bridles, Jasher and Farfalee sat astride their horse.
“Go,” Aram urged. “I’ll claim the inbound horse.”
Nia climbed onto the third horse. Jasher and Farfalee led the way to the far end of the stable. Aram, Fet, and Thag crouched into position at either side of the stable door. As he rode down the central aisle of the stable, Jason noticed that not all of the stalls had dead horses inside. Some had been empty. He idly wondered whether the soldiers had saved their own horses, sending them off into the night to be collected later.
As Jason reached the door at the far end of the stable, soldiers came through the door near Aram. “We have a problem!” the lead soldier cried, hustling into the stable, trailed closely by the other three. “Fugitives fleeing on horseback!”
Fixated on the fleeing horses and the bodies in the aisle, the new arrivals did not see the danger lurking at either side of the door. Aram, Fet, and Thag attacked from behind, dropping all four effortlessly. Just before Jason lost his view into the stable, he saw Aram heading out the door, presumably to find the man on horseback.
The gate to the large corral hung open. They trotted over to it. Del stayed with them on foot, sword in hand, eyes roving the night. Jasher leaned down, studying the ground beyond the gate with a glowing strand of seaweed in hand. Behind them, from a distance, Jason heard the clamor of weapons and the shouts of many voices. Dockside flames rose above the rooftops.
Thag and Fet came running from the stable. Del climbed up to ride double with Nia. Aram rode around the side of the stable, looking too large for his newly captured horse even though it was the biggest of the four.
“They messed up,” Jason told Corinne. “They were trying to make sure we didn’t have any horses, but they left just enough for us to keep moving. Nobody will be chasing us on horseback. Not from here.”
She nodded. He noticed that her hands were trembling. It took him a moment to realize that the shock of her combat with the lurker must still be setting in. She had been so brave.
“You sure you’re okay?” Jason checked.
“I’ll be fine,” she replied. Her voice didn’t sound very convincing. “The swordplay wasn’t too hard. The mental side of it was . . . very taxing.”
“Thag and Fet,” Jasher instructed, “follow us on foot. Hopefully, we’ll find enough mounts for all of us.” The seedman picked a direction, and they took off at a canter, forcing Jason to drop his conversation with Corinne. He enjoyed the wind in his face and the feel of Corinne’s arms around him. A guilty part of him hoped it would be some time before they found more horses.
They did not encounter any of the scattered horses quickly. The noise of battle receded. Behind them the town was silhouetted against raging sheets of flame. Beyond the blaze, too many ships crowded the modest port, red highlights reflecting off sails. Jason felt bad for any innocents who would have to rebuild their homes or businesses.
Jasher repeatedly leaned down to check the ground. Three times he dismounted to study the tracks more closely. Once they doubled back a short distance, having lost the trail.
Eventually they found seven horses grazing together. Apparently, the terror of the torivor had left the horses, because they did not shy away as the group approached.
Aram claimed the largest, transferring his saddle. With some rearranging, they soon each had a mount. Jasher, Farfalee, and Del were prepared to ride bareback. And they had four extra horses for Thag and Fet to choose from.
They had not ridden their horses hard from the stable, since three were carrying double and one was carrying Aram. Plus, they had paused a few times, and there was n
o sign of pursuit, so they decided to wait for Thag and Fet to catch up. Before long they heard the drinlings approaching at a sprint. A moment later they heard a galloping horse.
“One horse?” Farfalee asked.
“I only hear one,” Jasher confirmed.
“Could Thag or Fet have found one?” Del asked.
“I heard two runners,” Jasher said.
“Heg or one of our crewmates?” Del wondered.
“Maybe,” Jasher said.
“The soldier at the stable named one other mounted man besides the captain,” Aram reminded them. “A mercenary.”
Farfalee slid off her horse and set an arrow to her bowstring. Aram dismounted and drew his sword. The hoofbeats of the approaching horse slowed, then stopped. Thag and Fet ran into view. “A lone rider,” Thag called. Then he pitched forward to the ground, a long arrow in his back.
“Take cover,” Jasher warned, dropping from his horse, putting the animal between himself and the archer. Jason did likewise. After Jason landed, his horse walked forward. He hadn’t kept hold of the reins! Lunging, he grabbed them and held the horse still. Near him, crouching behind her horse, Corinne pulled out her sword. Aram and Farfalee took positions behind boulders.
Jason’s horse sidestepped restively. He patted the animal and murmured soothing words. Shield held ready, he stayed low, peering under the neck, worried about getting hit by an arrow. He still couldn’t see their enemy. Glancing over at Corinne, he drew his sword.
“I’ll ride him down,” Del volunteered.
“No,” Aram said. “You’ll be an easy target. You won’t get near him.”
Running low, Thag and Fet reached them. The arrow still jutted from Thag’s back.
“Hold fire so we can speak?” a deep voice called from the shadows perhaps fifty yards away.
“Your arrow told us all we need to know,” Farfalee replied.
“I am alone,” the voice responded. “Truce for a moment?”
“He just wants to learn our numbers,” Jasher whispered.
“I count nine,” the deep voice said. “One injured. All with horses. Shall we speak?”
“He’s stalling us,” Jasher whispered more quietly.
“We have nothing to discuss,” Farfalee answered. “We must hurry. Run away, leave your horse, and we’ll not harass you.”
“You have plenty of mounts without claiming mine,” the deep voice replied bitterly. “I despise incompetence. They should have left all their men at the stables until every horse was dead. Instead, they ran to the dock to fight the fire and watch the incoming ship.”
Fet and Del were creeping toward the unseen speaker. A sudden arrow took Fet through the throat. Del fell flat behind cover. Jason pressed a little closer to his horse.
“Now you have eight,” the voice informed them. “Sure you won’t talk? You can’t ride away if I keep putting arrows in you. I have plenty. I seldom miss.”
Jasher gave his wife a nod. “Very well,” she said. “Truce.” She took her arrow from the string, but kept it in her hand.
A tall man dressed as a conscriptor strolled out of the night, using a metal bar like a staff. He wore no helmet, and his head was shaved bald. The glow of the burning waterfront shone behind him. He held a large crossbow at his side. A bow and quiver were slung over one shoulder. His armor and gear jangled softly with every stride. With a pang of distress Jason recognized him.
“Groddic,” Jasher said.
“I know most of your names as well,” the big man replied. “Farfalee, Jasher, Corinne, Aram, Nia, Dead Guy, Injured Guy, the other drinling who got down just in time, and of course my old friend Jason.”
Jason remembered Groddic from Felrook. The tall conscriptor had brought him to his holding cell after his audience with Maldor. Suddenly the horse seemed like pathetically insufficient cover. Jason tightened his grip on his sword. What kind of chance would he have against a soldier like Groddic? He was the leader of the conscriptors. He was the conscriptor who had defeated Galloran. Apparently, Maldor was very serious about stopping them.
“What do you have to say?” Farfalee challenged.
“First, I want to congratulate you,” Groddic said.
“He wants to stall us,” Jasher repeated.
Groddic glanced over his shoulder. “Your crew tried to hold us at the docks. They were promptly overwhelmed. Many men are coming for you, but they lack mounts. Getting rid of the local horses was how we should have stopped you. We didn’t get the job done, so we won’t stop you here. Not unless I kill all of you myself.”
Jason found Groddic’s nonchalance distressing. He was a lone man approaching a sizable group with several proven fighters, but not only did he act unconcerned, he almost seemed exasperated. Jason glanced over at Corinne. She watched solemnly.
“Please try it,” Aram invited.
“You’re a large man,” Groddic complimented. “None of you are incompetent. We keep losing torivors. That alone speaks volumes. It would be an interesting contest. I brought in Galloran, you know, years ago. I’ll bring you in as well.”
“Still stalling,” Jasher warned.
“Let’s get him,” Corinne whispered angrily.
Releasing his horse, Jason crossed to her and placed a hand on her arm to still her. He could feel her trembling.
“I joined the chase in Angial,” Groddic said casually. “The Intrepid waited for me to board her. Might have been a mistake. We just missed you at Windbreak Island. Nice work there. I never thought we would see the end of that Maumet. If you hadn’t—”
“What have you to say?” Farfalee demanded. “Stop prattling.”
Groddic’s expression hardened. “I don’t have tempting offers. Any of you could have access to Harthenham. You could have close to anything at this point. But I know you won’t quit. Jasher was right. I was stalling. I intend to slay the lot of you. I’m just picking my moment.”
“I could put an arrow in your throat before you took a step,” Farfalee said.
He gave an easy chuckle. “That would officially end our truce. I would like to see you try.”
Quick as a blink, Farfalee pulled her bowstring back and let an arrow fly. It took Groddic through the throat. Thag and Del charged forward. Nia as well. Jason raced around Corinne’s horse. He didn’t want to wait for Groddic to come to him. He was tired of hiding behind others. Corinne charged alongside him.
Staggering, Groddic raised his crossbow and shot Thag in the center of his chest. The thickset drinling went down hard. Gurgling, Groddic blocked Del’s sword—once, twice, three times—before Nia ran him through with her sword from his blind side and Farfalee pierced him with another arrow. Del stabbed Groddic as well.
Jason and Corinne stopped short. The fight had ended as they arrived. The tall conscriptor went down and did not move. Del hurried to Thag. Nia checked Fet.
Jason could hardly believe the speed of the fight. He stood frozen, eyes roving from Groddic to the fallen drinlings.
“We need to go,” Jasher called. “His purpose was to harm us and slow us. Soldiers are coming. They will be on our trail. They will try to loop ahead of us. They will scavenge for horses.”
“Fet is dead,” Nia reported.
“Thag won’t make it,” Del said.
Jason could see Thag feebly waving for them to go. Jason’s eyes became wet. They were losing so many good people! The stirrup creaked as he climbed onto his horse.
Farfalee mounted up. “We must away.”
Nia stabbed the fallen conscriptor once more on the way to her horse. Jason wanted to add a stab or two of his own. That was the man who had blinded Galloran! He had just killed Thag and Fet! But there would be no point. It would restore nothing. Jason nudged his horse forward, following Jasher into the night.
CHAPTER 20
LANDFALL
I’m out of tricks,” Aram said, lowering the spyglass. Eight ships were visible along the seaward horizon, sails bright in the moonlight, the steady glow of lan
terns illuminating their decks. “And we’re running out of water. There is no room left to maneuver. Taking the wind into account, I don’t see an alternative to the docks.”
Jason studied the ships converging from all directions. Not much had changed since he had sent the message to Ferrin a few hours ago. The enemy vessels had spread wide, driving the Valiant before them. As land drew nearer and escape options dwindled, the pursuing ships drew closer together, led by an interceptor called the Intrepid.
After the prolonged calm had finally subsided, the Valiant had sailed north. They wanted to stay away from Angial, the largest city north of the Inland Sea, because it had a garrison with hundreds of soldiers. They had been making for Jerzon, a fishing village well west of Angial, but with reasonably good access to the Fuming Waste. But before they could reach the village, lookouts had spotted a torivor on the water. It had not borne swords, but not long after the sighting, imperial ships had forced them to revise their plans.
Aram had led the imperial vessels on an epic chase. He had tried the same trick on the Intrepid that had sunk the Avenger, but the new interceptor had carefully avoided following directly in their wake. Apparently, word had gotten out.
Jason watched the drinlings prepping hot pitch for the little catapults. The Valiant would end her final voyage with a firefight. They did not intend to leave the interceptor seaworthy. Over the course of the chase they had lost the skiff and one of the launches, along with five drinlings and five orantium spheres. The drinlings in the launch had managed to hit one of the smaller ships with orantium before flaming pitch had set their open boat ablaze.
After days of desperate maneuvering, they were out of alternatives. They were now heading for the town of Gulba. Heg had apparently scouted the town a few months ago. He had assured them that the town should house no more than twenty soldiers, but it did boast a pair of sizable piers and a large livery stable. The idea had been to steer toward Gulba, but to watch for a chance to slip through to a more northerly town. The wind and their pursuers had not cooperated, so now their options were either disembarking at Gulba or staging a battle on the water against eight enemy ships.