aIt could.a Curatio looked around the flames.

aI have to go to Caenalys,a Cyrus said. aI have to aa He felt his cheeks flush. aI have stop Hoygraf from killing Cattrine.a aHmmm,a Curatio said, nodding slowly. aCaenalys is a long ride from here. A far distance.a aIt doesnat matter,a Cyrus said. He hesitated. aHow far would you go to fix a mistake, Curatio?a The elf raised an eyebrow, but his seriousness never wavered. aAll the way to the end, of course.a Cyrus frowned. aThe end of what?a aThe end of the world,a Curatio said, aor the end of me, whichever came first. When the cost is high enough, could you pledge any less?a aNo,a Cyrus said, shaking his head. aTake over command for me, will you? I have to leave.a aRight now?a Curatio asked. aTonight?a aYes,a Cyrus said. aTiernan rode hours ago, with a good portion of his army. Iall need to catch him.a Curatio frowned. aWith much of Actaluereas army gone, we will give ground faster. But you already know that, donat you?a aI do.a Cyrus said, feeling for Praelioras hilt. aIall rejoin you as quickly as I can, and perhaps Iall be able to send back the rest of Actaluereas army when I do.a aThat would be good,a Curatio said. aAs I suspect weall need them before the end.a aThe end of what?a Cyrus said with dry amusement. aThe end of you or the end of the world?a Curatioas smile was there but it was thin. aIam beginning to think that they may just be one and the same.a

Chapter 90.

Vara Day 198 of the Siege of Sanctuary The Council Chambers were quiet, again, the hearth crackling through the silence. Vara sat at her seat at the table, along with Vaste, who wore a black robe this day, Ryin, Erith, Thada"who was present in his capacity as castellana"and Alaric at the head of the table. Grimness was all that was present; even Vaste seemed to be starved of his usual aura of mischief. He leaned back in his chair, staring out the window behind Alaric. There was a smell of defeat in the air, bitter, and it choked Vara, filled her throat with bile and anger.

aShall we go through it again?a Ryin asked.

aHas something dramatically changed?a Vaste replied, still staring out the window, emotionless.

aWeave been besieged at our very walls eight times in the last thirty days,a Ryin said.

aBeing neither deaf nor stupid, I not only counted when each of those attempts were made,a Vaste said, abut I also heard it moments ago when Thad mentioned that number.a The trollas arms were folded across his chest. aI remain unimpressed as they have yet to breach the gates and we have four weeks worth of rotting dark elven carcasses piling up outside our walls. The smell of those is the most fearsome of our worries thus far.a aWhen will it end?a Ryin asked, and this time no one answered. After he waited a spell, the druid turned around the table. aCan we finally discuss it?a aIf by ait,a you mean the delightful fashions that will be on display in Reikonos when spring rolls around, then yes, and the sooner we start discussing those lovely and cheery frocks, the better,a Vaste answered. aIf you mean what I suspect you mean, then no.a aI have no appetite for discussion of frocksa"a Vara began.

aBig surprise, there,a Vaste said.

She looked daggers at him. aBut perhaps there is some merit to considering what the druid is suggesting.a Ryin gave her a wary eye. aI love that you call me athe druida instead of using my actual name. I do have one, by the way.a Vara let out a small exhalation. aVery well. Perhaps we should consider what the odious pile of troll dung is suggesting.a aMy defecation is not so preposterous as he,a Vaste said, aand it smells sweeter, too, like freshly baked cinnamon bread.a aIs it really that difficult,a Ryin said, with barely constrained desperation, ato consider evacuating Sanctuary for neutral territorya"a Alaricas hand slammed into the table and the whole thing jumped slightly, causing everyone sitting at it to jump in frighta"all save for Thad, who merely continued to watch the whole proceeding without blanching. aWe will not abandon Sanctuary.a Vaste looked at the Ghost, his eyebrows raised. aAnd I thought I was reacting poorly to this entire line of discussion.a aYou are,a Ryin said, wide-eyed, his entire focus on Alaric, abut I believe our esteemed Guildmaster just aced you quite easily.a aOur walls have held against everything that the dark elves have thrown at us,a Alaric said, his face dark, aand we have yet to lose more than a few unfortunate souls in these assaults. I see no reason to consider discussing alarmist measures.a aAlarmist?a Ryin asked. aWeare surrounded by the foremost army in the world. Theyare battering on our door with increasing frequency, aiming to take our keep and burn it to the ground. Iam not ready to retreat either, but it might be useful to have a contingency plan in place should we need to evacuatea"a aThere will be no evacuation,a Alaric said menacingly, and Vara heard a darker edge to his voice than she had ever known before. aWe remain secure with our portal closed, and we will continue to turn back any advances. Let them stay out there, rallied around us. That will keep them from mustering any sort of a counterstroke against Reikonos or the elves, and give the others time to perhaps find their courage and begin to take the war to the Sovereign.a Vara heard him and felt a tingle of despair. She looked to Erith and saw the healer match her own expression. No one is going to rise against the Sovereign; theyave felt the taste of defeat against him, and it is a heavy sauce to flavor the stew. The dwarves and the gnomes will not intervene, and we will sit here as the years tick by, waiting for the Sovereign to lose interesta"which he wonat.

aAnd when the century rolls past,a Ryin said calmly, aand some of us are dead of old age or from battlea"a aOr from eating conjured bread and water every day for our entire lives,a Vaste interrupted. aAnd never meeting that special woman who appreciates you for the brilliant, witty, especially handsome green man that you are?a He flicked a look around the table. aThat last one is probably just for me.a aHow long, Alaric?a Ryin asked. aSooner or later, the members will grow sick of being trapped here, without true food to eat, or a life to live. Will we ever discuss it? I would even settle for being promised a discussion ain the fullness of timea at this point. It would be better than thinking we will nevera"a aWe will not,a Alaric said, ayield. Not Sanctuary.a There was an unmistakable hardness to the Guildmasteras voice.

aWe are all officers here, Alaric,a Ryin said quietly. aIt should be put to a vote.a aVote, if you must,a Alaric replied, abut I am the Master of Sanctuary. If you wish to flee, you may. Take any who want to go with you. But we will not evacuate entirely; I will not halt our defense. I will not surrender to the dark elves. Not when this place is all that stands a it is the last bastion that holds against them marshaling their forces and striking the head from the Human Confederation from Reikonos. I will remain here, manning the wall, destroying the Sovereignas every soldier until I can do so no longer.a The Ghostas eyes blazed with fire, and Vara could hear the forged steel in his tone. aWe will not discuss evacuation because it is not a guild matter, it is a matter of individual choice. If someone chooses to leave, that is their business and they may conduct it. But until such time as the wall breaks and the dark elven hordes pour in upon us, there will be no discussion of abandoning our homea"my homea"to these chaos-bringers so that they may have their way with it and be on about destroying the next unfortunate target on their armyas list.a There was a long and ringing silence, into which no one spoke before Alaric did again. aYou are all you dismissed.a Without another word, he puffed into a light cloud of smoke and dissolved, more abruptly than Vara had seen him do so before.

There was a slow movement toward the door; Vara stood, not wanting to be the first nor the last. She found herself next to Thada"that cursed idiota"and wandered down the stairs awkwardly next to him, trying to speed up just as he did, resulting in an uncomfortable silence between the two of them as they settled into walking down the stairs roughly next to each other. I should make a conversation attempt, I suppose. aYou, uha"a His head snapped up at the sound of her voice, and he looked at her in near-shock. aYes?a aSorry,a she said. aYou had mentioned before that you were of the a Swift Swords when you were in the Society of Arms.a aIndeed I was,a he said with a nod.

aI see,a Vara said. aAnd was Cyrus a uhm a a Swift Sword with you as well?a Thad frowned; she cursed herself for asking as his earnest face crumpled, forehead lined and eyes slightly squinted. aNo, maaam.a aAh,a she said with a nod to the younger man. aHe was an Able Axe, then. Iam certain you faced him in those fabled child slaughter games that they presented you lot with under the guise of practices.a aNo, maaam, he wasnat an Able Axe, either,a Thad said, shaking his head. aI didnat typically face him in the exercises because they always had the older kids band together to fight him when it was called for.a Vara ran his response through her mind, trying to make sense of it. aIam sorry. You said he wasnat a Swift Sword and then you said he wasnat an Able Axe. But I remember distinctly being told that every single member of the Society is assigned a Blood Family, for training purposes, for espirit de corps. So if he wasnat either of those, then a was there a perhaps a third Blood Family I am unaware of?a aAh, no,a Thad said with an almost embarrassed shake of the head.

I am dealing with a moron of some sort, as I have always suspected. Perhaps I should speak slowly in order for him to understand me. aThen he was a not a member of the Society of Arms in Reikonos?a aNo, he was,a Thad said. The warrior cocked his head at her. aYou donat know, do you?a Vara felt the slow, hammering burn of annoyance in her cheeks, the sound of blood rushing into her ears flared and she restrained her hand from doing that familiar thing again, seeking the hilt of her sword. Why must I continue to be like him in this damnable habit? Iam not actually going to strike this fool down, after all, much as it might entice me a aNo, I suppose I donat know what youare hinting at. Perhaps youad be so kind as to enlighten me rather than standing there and making me feel like a complete fool.a Thadas mouth opened wide and then shut abruptly. aIam sorry,a he stammered. aI thought everyone knew by now, with the rumors that went around awhile back.a Vara felt a surge of impatience. aI seem like the sort who trades in rumors, do I? Do you see me with an abundance of people to keep me informed of the latest tidbits of gossip?a aNo!a A slight look of shock ran over his face. aI donat mean suggest youare the disagreeable sort or anything of that naturea"a Vara leaned in closer to the warrior in red, causing him to shut up immediately. aI am a very disagreeable. And I am about to become much more so if the next words out of your mouth arenat a succinct explanation of that which you clearly realize I do not know regarding Cyrus and the Society of Arms.a aHe was never in a Blood Family,a Thad said. aIt happens, rarely, that a recruit for whatever reason isnat given one, because the instructors want him to be killed off in the training process.a Vara frowned at him; no difficult feat since her natural state was to be somewhat displeased. aYet he clearly has survived to this point, so it cannot have been all that bada"a aHe was the first,a Thad said with a gulp. aThe first to make it past a year without a Blood Family, the first to graduate without one. The strongest warrior they ever graduated, I think, because he did it all on his own.a She stared at him through half-lidded eyes. aNo family? None?a He shook his head. aHe slept on his own, hid in a different place every night. Took all his meals by himself.a Thadas jaw moved, but no words came out for a moment. aI donat a I mean, the instructors would talk to him when they gave him orders, but uh a no one else was allowed to say anything to him. No fraternizing with the enemy, you know, itas Blood Family law aa Vara felt a sudden dryness in her mouth, the taste of bitter acrimony faded away. aAnd he was there from the time he was aa aSix,a Thad said helpfully. aOne of the youngest. Heas legend there, I mean a legend.a aYet unable to find a guild when he left,a she said quietly, pondering.

aOh, that was because of the Guildmaster of the Society,a Thad said. aI mean, League recommendation counts for a lot in most guilds. I doubt he even knew it, but I heard a couple warriors in my last guild talk about it. Cyrus got struck down every guild he applied toa"theyad use him for a while, an application period, and then cast him off, him and the other two with him. Thatas why they ended up starting their own guild.a Thad blanched. aDonat tell him I told you that; like I said, I donat think he knows he was blacklisted by the Society. Iam actually a little surprised that Alaric wouldnat have checked with the Society Guildmaster beforea"a All Thadas words fell upon a great deafness in Varaas ears; they came, she heard them vaguely, but they faded in the background, as though he were speaking to her at a distance of miles instead of a foot away. No father. No mother since he was six. Not a friend nor a confidant until age eighteen? A wife who left him, a best friend who died. Goddess, I hate pity. Truly, I hate it. Yet there it is, all the same. Pity and a great swell of a sympathy. She did not acknowledge Thad again, merely started her way back up the stairs. He mouthed some words behind her but she waved him off with one hand and climbed, passing the others who were finally descending, went all the way up to her quarters and lay down on the bed.

And for some reason she could not explain, even when she thought about it at great length, she cried over the thought of Cyrus Davidonas upbringing for the next several hours, and when she stopped, it was only because she had no tears left to shed.

Chapter 91.

Cyrus The sun rose on trees glazed with ice on the branches. It caught Cyrus riding south, fatigue catching him ahorse, bumping along to the briskness of early morning. The snowstorm he had ridden through in the night had settled into a winteras mix, and his beard was as frosted as the tree branches, though he had used his fingers to attempt to brush it loose every now and again. At least the rest of me is warm. He tugged on Windrideras reins; the horse was at no more than a canter now. Looking back, he saw Enrant Monge just barely on the horizon, a boxy shape behind him on a hill.

Enrant Monge is a majestic castle, no doubt. A tremendous place, and one so wrapped up in the glories of Luukessia that I can see why the Brothers are willing to die for it. He felt a tug of regret. And die they shall, if Scylax is any sort of indication. All it would take is for Drettandena"if thatas what that thing truly isa"to come charging at the gates and I suspect they would buckle after only a few good hits. Still, he looked back, the majesty of that place is not to be underestimated. Even as a shape on the horizon, the squarish nature of the outside walls, the soaring towers and the meaning behind it all gave him a feeling of sadness. Theyare going to lose a everything.

He started to turn again to the road ahead but blinked and looked back, down the barely noticeable track that he knew to be the road. Wagon ruts were the only sign that this was a path, and they were partially covered over from the snowstorms. There were figures coming up behind him, on horses, their hooves struggling through the snow. They were moving faster than he was, and he pondered, just for a moment, pulling Praelior out and readying for them. Then he caught the first sight of deep blue skin under robes, and waited instead, keeping Windrider in place.

aYou left without saying goodbye,a Jaanda said as his horse trotted along, each step a slight struggle with the snowy road. aIf there is one thing I simply cannot abide, it is the thought of a trusted comrade and friend throwing himself into oblivion without so much as a afare thee wella before doing so.a Cyrus watched the others who were with him; Aisling was easy enough to pick out, with her sullen eyes, her easy smile long gone, no trace of it left on her face. Martaina, too, though her eyes were hidden by her cowl. aSo you came to say goodbye?a Cyrus asked.

aNo, fool, we came to go with you.a Jaanda waved a hand at him dismissively. aMy talents are wasted here, conjuring bread all the day long. But sieging the city by the sea? You may have use for an enchanteras skill yet.a He said it with a twinkle in his eye.

aAnd you?a Cyrus asked Martaina.

aIam here to keep an eye on you,a she said grudgingly, aas I said I would. I expect youall be easier to keep an eye on if you remain alive and in close range.a Cyrus looked to Aisling but didnat say anything. She smoldered, looking back at him. aI told you,a she said finally, aIam here to give you what you need, no questions.a Cyrus looked back at her. aAisling a Iam sa"a aDonat.a It was only a little pointed, the way she said it. She didnat flinch, didnat react, just took the reins of her horse and urged it forward to lead the way along the snowy road.

aHow far is it to Caenalys?a Jaanda asked, starting his horse forward, the smooth landscape a long, rolling plain of white broken only by the snow-wrapped trees, jutting out of it like an ocean of bones.

aA moonas change, at least,a Martaina replied, coming alongside him. Aisling was ahead of them both now, and Cyrus was only just turning Windrider around to follow.

aA month?a Jaanda asked. aWith those two in a snit? Hm.a The enchanter shook his head. aWell, that wonat be dreadfully uncomfortable.a

Chapter 92.

They caught up with the Army of Actaluere on the following day, and outrode them three days later, packs on their backs and laden with provisions. The sky remained a dreary color for the most part; only the occasional daybreak found beauteous pink in the sky with the dawn. Most mornings it was grey all the way through, and the snowy ground persisted for the first week, the brisk air chilling Cyrusas nose until they could set the fire every evening.

The flavor of hard cheese was long familiar to them by the second week, coupled with the conjured bread that Jaanda could provide, and the smaller servings of salted pork and pickled eggs that helped break the monotony. The snow began to disappear in the second week, becoming patchier and more occasional until one day it yielded to brown earth and bare trees, with leaves still on the ground, uncovered. They rode through deep brown woods that smelled of fresh air, found empty houses and inns along the way that had been stripped of everything edible by the masses of refugees passing down the highway. They began to run across stragglers and slow-moving bands a day later. By the end of the week they traveled on full roads, and every soul they encountered was a beggar, starving for the most part.

The smell was overwhelming, a stink of a people who had not bathed in a month, coupled with horses, manure, and all manner of other thingsa"poor food, muddy roads. The sound of them was incredible, babies and children crying from hunger. Jaanda conjured bread from morning until long after the sun had gone down and yet still had not enough to provision the people they encountered. Cyrus watched the faces that came to them, tired, beleaguered, desperate in some cases.

Martaina killed a cutthroat who crept into their camp in the dead of night with a sword. A few nights later a haggard man had tried to corner Aisling when she had gone off into the woods on her own, and when she returned she casually mentioned that someone had tried to aforce his way with her.a After an alarmed query from Cyrus, she led them to the place where the body lay, already stripped of its belongings. Though he cast a sidelong glance at her, Cyrus did not bother to ask her whether the man had any possessions of note before he had died.

Aisling had not forgiven Cyrus in the truest sense of the word, he could tell. She had not, however, withheld her favors from him, not even for a night after rejoining him. She did, however, become less charitable anda"he noted one morning while feeling the shape of a bruise on his necka"more vengeful. He did not complain, continuing to lie with her at night.

By the third week of their journey, the ground had returned to a somewhat green state, albeit a darkened one. Some of the trees retained their leaves, and the roads became choked with refugees. Cyrus watched one day as Jaandaas spells to conjure bread turned from their usual white aura to a reddish one and he shook the enchanter by the shoulder. aStop,a Cyrus said.

aI canat,a the dark elf said, his lower lip quivering, athese people are starving.a aYou wonat do them any good if you kill yourself trying to feed them.a Cyrus watched the enchanter carefully for the rest of the trip and warned Martaina to do the same. He rode in silence, for the most part, the perpetual glimmer gone from his eyes, staring ahead in silence. He conjured bread at every occasion, and water too when necessary, for anyone he could as they passed.

On the fourth week, the sun came out and the land turned flatter, the road less winding. aWeall have entered the lands around Caenalys by now,a Martaina said, studying a hand-drawn map that had guided them thus far. aThere is a signpost ahead just a bit farther, and it will put us upon the last leg of the way.a She let her jaw tighten. aAfter that, weall be at the gates soon enough.a aAre you certain about this?a Aisling asked, flicking her eyes to him in the barest hint of impatience.

Cyrus paused. aCertain as I can be. The people of this city deserve a chance to flee, to survive, and the Baroness aa he felt his throat constrict. aI owe her a debt.a aIs that all?a Aisling asked.

Cyrus looked down. aItas all Iave got for now. If that army has to besiege the city, she dies. She suffered a lot to make sure I lived. I owe her.a aShe wasnat the only one who helped bring you back to life,a Aisling said quietly. aDonat forget that.a He looked at her evenly. aI havenat.a That night she was particularly vicious, more frenzied than before, and he felt the pain of it in the following morningas ride, with scabbed-over nail marks along his back. He felt them pulse and sear with each step of the horse, each bump in the road.

The land was green now, green with spring, grasses gone dormant for the winter returning to life. aThis is canal country,a Martaina said to him as they rode along, awe are likely no more than two daysa ride from the city.a aAnd an army,a Cyrus said.

aI havenat forgotten them, I assure you,a Martaina said with a roll of the eyes.

The flat lands and coastal swamps gave them a day of blessed warmth at the next dawn. The sun shone down and Cyrus felt the heat upon his armor at midday, and realized that he felt warm for the first time outside the presence of a fire in months.

aI could become used to this,a Jaanda said, turning his face to the sun, closing his eyes and letting his horse meander down the path.a aWhat can we expect when we get there?a Aisling asked.

aWe should be outside the city gates in a few hours,a Cyrus said, though he saw no sign of any city on the flat horizon. There were few enough travelers and refugees here, most having turned southeast at the previous crossroads. There were scarcely any travelers at all, and their number grew sparser as the day went on.

aItas a fishing town, a seaport,a Martaina said, repeating the same information that Milos Tiernan had given them before they departed the army. aBut the port is closed, I suppose, and the gates under watch.a aIf King Hoygraf canat hold the city voluntarily,a Cyrus said, aheall squeeze it to death by force.a Jaanda looked at Cyrus accusingly. aWhen you pick an enemy, you donat do it in half measures, do you?a aMy only regret is only half-killing him,a Cyrus said.

Martaina cast him a cocked eyebrow. aThatas your only regret? Nota"a She stopped and looked to Aisling, who glanced at her sideways without turning her head. aNever mind.a Night fell, the skies darkened, and soon enough the swaying of the trees was only visible by moonlight. They rode on, quietly. The gates of the city grew larger in the distance, braziers lit all around the perimeter of the wall to give the city an imposing feel. It was wide, huge.

aAny bets on them seeing this coming?a Jaanda said.

aIam not much of a gambler these days,a Martaina replied, tense.

The walls were wide and flat, and reached a hundred feet up. There was nothing visible behind them save for a few lanterns hung in high towers. We should have come in the daylight. It would have been more glorious to see this city the way Cattrine described it to me.

The thundering hooves of the horses around Cyrus lulled him into the quiet as they went. aAre you sure youave got this, Jaanda?a aFear not,a the enchanter said. aYou have never looked more unthreatening than you do right now.a aGlorious,a Cyrus said, amy lifeas ambition, fulfilled.a aLook at me,a Martaina said, aIam no different than I was.a aI am,a Aisling said, holding out a tanned, browned hand. aHuman is not a good look for me.a She swiveled to look at Cyrus. aIs it?a He favored her with a once-over. aI donat mind it. You look good.a She gave him a slow nod. aMaybe Iall keep it on. For later. Variety, you know.a There was a silence around them, broken only by the sound of the horsesa hooves hitting the road. aWhat a fabulously misplaced use for my beautiful magics,a Jaanda said mournfully.

aTry and pretend you havenat used them for the same purposes or worse,a Aisling snapped at him. The enchanter shrugged with a slight smile of mystery.

The flat, dark colors of the stone wall were rising at them. The gates were opena"thank the godsa"as they came along the last few hundred feet. Guards were in the shadows, Cyrus could sense them, and they stepped out upon the approach of the party on horseback. Cyrus stared at them.

aWhat have we got here?a the head guard asked, utterly disinterested.

aIam escorting a party of holy women into the Temple of Our Forebearers,a Jaanda said. aYou know, helpers to prepare the dead for their departure.a One of the guards shot his partner a look. aYou know the city is closed to exit? Once you go in, you donat come out until it reopens.a aIam quite fine with that,a Jaandaas human face smiled. aOnce Iave dropped the ladies off, there are a few locations Iam keen to visit. Traveling with holy women a you understand. It provides little enough comfort.a The guard guffawed. aAll right, then. In you go. Itas after dark, and martial law is in force, so be quick to your destination. No loitering about in the streets, or youall be arrested.a He lowered his voice and leaned toward Jaanda. aIf itas female companionship youare looking for, try the Scalded Dog out near the seaport. Very fine wenches there and reasonable as well.a aOh, Iave heard good things,a Jaanda said. aBut as I believe your sailors say, aany old port in a storm,a yes?a The guards shared a laugh at that one. aToo right. Be on your way, then. Donat dawdle.a aOh, I shanat,a Jaanda said, spurring his horse forward to lead the way. aIam in too much of a hurry to get where Iam going to linger for long.a Another laugh filled the night as they went on, crossing through the torchlit dark under the portcullis. There were murder holes above, Cyrus saw, archers with arrows pointed down at them as they passed. Cyrus kept his mouth shut, waiting for the tension to subside.

There was a definite quiet as they went, and when the tunnel underpass for the wall opened up, they found themselves on a wide avenue. Small buildings lined either side of it, most of them three stories, set back off a dirt path in the center that was deeply rutted with wagon tracks. It had turned to mud, Cyrus realized, from spring rains.

Ahead was clearly the palace, and palatial it was, with columns and a dome that reached into the sky. There was a bridge ahead, one that dipped over a canal running through the city. There are dozens of them, allowing the citizens to navigate on water as easily as they do on the streets.

There was a commotion behind them, something atop the wall, and Cyrus turned to listen. He saw Martaina freeze, her face hidden behind a conjured mask that covered her features save for her eyes. That was plenty enough to give Cyrus the impression that something was desperately wrong. Just behind them, the clanking of the portcullis as it began to descend and the shouts of aALARUM!a rang over the wall.

aWhat is it?a Cyrus asked, grasping at Martainaas shoulder. aWhatas wrong? Is the Army of Actaluere here already?a aNo,a she said with a shake of the head. aWorse.a There was scurrying atop the walls, and screams, shouts that were undistinguishable to Cyrusas ears. Bells began to ring in the streets, and suddenly an aroma hit him, overpowering, with the wind that rushed through the rapidly closing portcullisa"death, rot a fear. In the blackness beyond the lowering gate he could see nothing but the tingle ran over his flesh nonetheless and his mouth filled with a bitter, acrid flavor as the blood pumped through his veins. He watched as the gates began to close behind that latticed portcullis, as it clanged to the ground and reverberated through the tunnel. A single word bubbled to his lips, and he knew by all that happened around him that he was right, even before Martaina confirmed it.

aScourge.a

Chapter 93.

Vara Day 209 of the Siege of Sanctuary The rattle of the remaining siege engines rolling away from the wall was loud, but not overpowering. Vara stood on the heights, smelling the fetid waste in the no manas land below her, watched the last few surviving siege towers limping away across the muddied plain and breathed a sigh that came out of her slowly, as though she could scarcely believe it was through. Another done. Another repelled.

aThatas right!a A voice cried to her left. She turned to see Thad, standing there in his red armor, waving his sword over the wall at the backs of the retreating dark elven army. aRemember this! This is what happens when you mess with the best!a aOr in your case,a Vara said acidly, athe barely competent.a She tasted the burning on her lips of the words, as though they were real, as though they were vile in truth as well as content, and she shrugged involuntarily. She leaned heavily against the tooth of the battlement before her and felt her whole weight lean with her, armor and all. It felt heavy, in spite of the enchantments. Itas not the weight of the armor, itas the weight of the burden. The defense of this place is dragging me down, it becomes all Iave ever lived and all Iam living for. She ran a hand across her face and flipped up the nose guard on her helm, removing the little line from her vision where it sat to protect her face from harm. It is almost as though I can remember nothing before this.

aNasty bit of business, isnat it?a She turned her gaze to the side, where she caught Partus looking at her with a gap-toothed grin. aThey keep coming, we keep slaying them. The Sovereign has to have thrown away fifteen, twenty thousand lives here thus far, and all on these half-arsed attacks we keep turning back. Youad think head make a concerted push sooner or later.a aI donat think I wish to see your definition of a concerted push.a aItad involve throwing more and more men at the gate,a Partus said, ataking up where their brethren fell, grabbing the battering ram when the men who hold it drop ita"a aWould you want to grab that?a she pointed to the gate where the last battering ram the dark elves had used was lying. It was long, about thirty feet, a felled tree with the ends sawed off, a massive log. The men who carried it lay dead around it, all of them in flames, as was the ram.

aNot as it is, no,a the dwarf said with a shrug. aBut you put a wizard and a druid close up by it, they use a water spell to extinguish it, you throw another forty men under it and keep hammering until the gates give.a aOur gates do not give,a she said simply, but her eyes remained on the flaming ram, where it burned on the once clearly defined dirt road that led to the Sanctuary gates. It had become indistinguishable from the fields around it, however, because of attacks during rainy times, and the entire verdant plain for several hundred feet around the Sanctuary walls had become nothing but a slick mudscape, a messy pit of dead bodies, discarded armor and weapons, and only a few stubborn patches of grass that had not yet been wiped out.

aEvery gate gives if you hammer it hard enough and long enough,a Partus said, still looking at her and not the battlefield. aTake you, for instancea"a She gave him a disgusted, scathing look and he held up his hands before him in surrender, with amusement. aNow, now. Weave known each other a good long time, Vara, since the days of Alliance yore. Iave always respected youa"a aYouave rarely seen me, since I attended few enough Alliance functions and never went to the meetings.a aNot after a time,a Partus said with a grin, abut at first you did, when you were new and sweetly innocent to the way things ran.a He ignored her searing look at the remark. aAnyhow, youave always had such a charming personality, I just canat tell you how amazed I was when I heard that the one who finally broke down your gates was that blockhead Davidona"a aStop talking,a she said. This time there was no menace to her voice, only a whisper that sounded like thunder to her ears.

aOoooh,a Partus said, hands still up in front of him. He wiggled his fingers and made an amused sound. aSo itas true, is it? I had always wondered if youad ever melt for a man, but Davidon? Really? What is it about him that has women throwing themselves at his feet? The Princess of Actaluere, that smutty little rogue dark elf, and youa"a aStop what youare saying right now,a Vara raised her hand at him, aor Ialla"a aNow, now,a Partus replied, waving his own hand, which was still pointed at her, aletas not be hostile about things. Assuming you could fire off a blast before I did, which is a bit iffy because Iave seen you work your magic and youare just not that fasta"but assuming you did, I donat think it would end out well for you, my dear, because you know I wouldnat go far, and Iad be back in mere moments to slaughter youa"a There was the sound of an explosive blast, and Partus was launched to the side, smashing into the battlement wall. Vara heard the crack of his bones as his leg and hip hit the stone and broke. His upper body was carried by the force of the spell into a flip, his hip the center of gravity. He tipped upside down and was flung, end over end, off the wall. Vara leaned over to look and saw the dwarf fall in a spiral from his momentum, and when he landed with a crack, he did not stir, eyes wide, staring up at the battlements, dead.

aYou wished to leave Sanctuary, Partus,a came Alaricas voice, to Varaas right. She turned and saw him there, his hand still extended, even as he spoke to the empty space where the dwarf had stood only a moment before. aNow I have granted your wish.a Without bothering to look over the battlement at the fallen dwarf, the Ghost turned, walking back to the tower nearest them, and disappeared into the darkness without another word.

Chapter 94.

Cyrus The sound of troops filled the street, guards shouting, men marching in armor. The clatter of the gates shutting was complete, and the smells of death were cut off abruptly, replaced with the city scentsa"old baked bread from communal ovens, torch oil, and latrines. Cyrus whipped his head around, and saw more soldiers running toward them, toward the walls, the gates, and felt the padding of his armor brush against him as he tried to decide what to do next. aThe palace,a Cyrus said. aIf the scourge is coming now, theyall be pulling defenses. We need to go.a aNo time like the present,a Jaanda said as the first wave of guards began to pass them. He waved his hand, and Cyrus saw the enchanteras appearance change from a human man in robes to an armored guard wearing the livery of Grand Duke Hoygrafas Green Hill guard. Cyrus looked down and saw his armor masked in the same way. Martaina and Aisling were now absent, but beside him on horseback were two others, similarly clad.

aLetas go,a Cyrus said, and urged Windrider forward, holding as close to the side of the street as possible. The soldiers made way for them as they passed, the hooves of their horses splattering in the muddy street. The steady clang of armored men on the march echoed off the houses to either side, and Cyrus watched as the lines of infantry maintained their formations, holding to their discipline as they headed for the gates. aThatall be important for them,a he said out loud, aespecially as those things come over the walls.a aThis is not going to end pretty,a Martaina said, glancing back nervously, her Actaluerean helm sitting atop a blond manas head. That her soft voice came through in a husky whisper was even stranger to Cyrus, who had to think about it for a moment to remember it was, in fact, her.

They rode on, down an alley onto a side street and on toward the palace, with its columns and massive steps. Guards were peeling off from the gates as they got close, the dirt streets an unpleasantly muddy place to be. They rode through without being questioned or inspected, the chaos wild around them. There was a harbor visible to their left, dark waters lapping at the piers; the palace was built on the water but rose stories above it, high enough that the entire side was protected by the sheer face of the palaceas eastern walls. The back of it was against the ocean too, Cyrus realized as they entered the courtyard; he wondered if there was an easy way out. The shouts of the palace guard filled the air, crackling as the portcullis to the palaceas smaller curtain wall began to crank slowly shut. A few more guards rushed to beat the closing.

aLet us hope there is another way out,a Jaanda said, eyeing the gate closing behind them. aIf it truly is the scourge, then I donat expect weall be going out the front.a aAye,a Martaina said. aWeare bottled up now.a aWell, letas be quick about this, then,a Cyrus said, eyeing the palace steps. aAw, hells, why be polite and shy?a He urged Windrider forward and the horse began to climb the front steps, a few at a time with a neigh. Cyrus heard the clopping of hooves on the stone and knew the others were following behind. The palace steps narrowed toward the top, running into a column-lined portico and within moments Cyrus was under it, a few guards staring at him in shock. aUrgent message for the King,a he called as he passed. aUrgent!a At a checkpoint ahead he saw two guards stare at him, crossed poleaxes ineffectually blocking his path. At the sound of his cry, they uncrossed them, then stepped aside as he thundered into the palace on Windrideras back.

aWhat are you going to do when they find out you donat have a message?a he heard Martaina say behind him.

aI actually do have a message for King Hoygraf,a Cyrus said tersely.

aI donat think heas going to want to hear that one,a Martaina replied.

aNo one ever wants to hear bad news,a Cyrus said. aIt still shows up anyway. Urgent message for the King!a he called, and a bevy of guards ahead of him parted in a slow sea, the two closest to the bronze doors behind them opening them for Cyrus to pass. As the doors opened, he could see a throne room ahead, a high seat in a wider room than Vernadamas. Columns lined either side of the room and to his left there was an open balcony that overlooked the sea running the length of the room. There were a few guards scattered about that came to attention as he entered, and Cyrus dismounted swiftly, saluting Hoygraf as he did so.

Hoygraf rose from his seat on the great throne as Cyrus dismounted. The man still carried his obsidian cane, leaning heavily upon it as he pulled up. Cyrus froze for only a beat as he looked to the seat next to Hoygraf; Cattrine sat there, upon a grand throne with a teal backing. Hoygrafas seat was teal as well, and the oceanas salt air seemed to fill the room around them as Cyrus stared at Cattrine. Her hair was only neck-length, now. She watched him without interest, slumped slightly to the side in her chair, her neck limp and angled, as though even sitting were some great effort for her. Her left eye was blacked, and there was a crust of blood at her lip. Her hand came up self-consciously to daub at her face as Cyrus began to stride across the wide, blue carpet toward the throne, his head bowed.

aYour majesty,a Cyrus said, traversing the carpet in quick steps, struggling to remain nonchalant and keep his hands free from his sword belt. One chance at this. The minute I draw on him Iam going to have a fight on my hands. Ballsy effort has taken us this far, I just need a minute to make this happen.

aThatas close enough,a Hoygraf said, stopping at the edge of the rise of steps. He leaned heavily on his cane for support, stooping over like an old man.

aAs you wish, malord,a Cyrus said, and knelt to one knee roughly ten feet away from the man, bowing his head.

aYou ride horses into my throne room,a Hoygraf said, straining at each word. aIf you have an urgent message, deliver it.a aYes, malord,a Cyrus said, adding a tone of contrition. aMalord, the scourge appears on the horizon.a Hoygraf let out a small hiss of disbelief. aYes, I know that, you idiot. We have lookouts posted that rode back here with that message long before you.a Hoygraf frowned at him. aIs that your only message? Why didnat you report that to a guard captain?a aBecause, malord,a Cyrus said, and bowed lower, obscuring his upper body as he reached for his sword, aI have a further message to deliver, one meant for you and you alone.a Hoygrafas voice bled caution, and Cyrus could hear the man standing up straighter. aOh? And what might that be?a aThat the westerner, Cyrus Davidon, even now rides for Caenalys and means to strike you down in your own throne room,a Cyrus said, his hand finding Praelioras hilt even under the illusion.a aWell,a Hoygraf said with dark amusement, aI doubt heall be getting through the hundreds of thousands of those beasts filling every square inch of ground outside our city gates, but I do welcome him to try. I donat fear that petty coward, who hides his vileness and impotence behind western magics and wickedness.a aI believe if you were to consult with your Lady, youad find heas anything but impotent,a Cyrus said, raising his head with a smile, abut you are quite right that he hides behind western magics. But only because sometimes a itas the fastest way into your enemyas throne room.a Cyrus stood, letting his blade hang by his side. aOh, and not to correct the faux-King in his own chambers, but a you do fear me. You always have, since the day I put a sword in your belly and left you to die.a Hoygraf reached for the tip of his cane and ripped it aside, revealing a narrow blade. aPerhaps you mistake hate for fear; I fear no man, especially not a man I have personally removed the head from in the past and shall again. Guards!a He called out, his voice reverberating through the chamber.

Cyrus looked left and right, and in the eye of every guard he saw the same dead expression, their faces blank, drool dripping down a few of their chins. aI donat think youall be finding much help within their ranks at the moment.a He smiled, and with a nod at Jaanda, said, aWestern magic. You know how it goes.a aSo itas to be the two of us, then?a Hoygraf said, wavering on his legs, from one side to the other, balancing tentatively as he held the narrow blade of his cane aloft. aI welcome the opportunity to have a chance to gut you as youave gutted me.a aYou cannot be serious,a Cyrus said, staring at him. aYou can barely stand.a aI will surprise you with my strength,a Hoygraf said. aMy resolve is not to be questioned, nor is my prowessa"a aMuch like the idea of you living to rule this puppet kingdom youave set up,a Cyrus said, athe idea of you lasting more than a second in a sword fight with me is simply delusion.a aPuppet kingdom?a Hoygraf spat. aI will have you know that this moment is the culmination of a lifetime of planning, of waiting for so rich an opportunity. This land is mine, now, and no Arkarian filth is going to ruin my moment. I will finish you, and then my men and I will end this scourge that you and yours couldnat find the balls to deal with. This is the beginning of a thousand year reign for my house!a Cyrus looked at him blankly then blinked his eyes, twice. aWhen you called me impotent, earlier, you were really talking about yourself, werenat you?a Hoygrafas hand made a swift gesture, waving at him. aCome at me, fool. Let us see what sort of power you have against a God-King. This is my destiny. This is the moment I was born fora"a With a sudden choking noise, he looked down, then sideways.

aI agree,a Cattrine said, her hand on his shoulder, the other behind his back. aYou were born for this very moment. Youave lived your whole life leading up to it, and now youare here. It is a culmination, husband of mine, a reaping of all the seeds of discord youave sown throughout the great and small moments along the way.a Her other hand came from behind his back, now, and a long, bloodstained dagger was clenched in it, and she rested it on his throat. aEnjoy the reaping, dear.a She ran it across his neck, opening his throat to a gasping noise as he collapsed. aEnjoy your moment.a He fell to the ground and blood washed out onto the blue carpet, his mouth still open in shock as his eyes went from her to Cyrus, then his face grew still.

aYou all right?a Cyrus asked, staring at Cattrine. Her blue gown was stained with crimson she stared at the knife in her hands with empty, hollow eyes. aCattrine?a She looked up and found him again. aI didnat dare to hope youad come. I dreamed it, at night, when I hoped he wouldnat hear me thinking it. I thought of you in the worst of moments, the darkest of them. I thought of you.a aAre you all right?a he asked again, and closed the distance between them with two long steps. He took hold of her arms, gently, and watched the shock on her face dissolve as she leaned into him, kissed him, on the lips, and he could taste the spattered blood on her as she did it, smelled the court perfumes. His free hand ran across her back, gently, his gauntlet feeling the soft flesh beneath, and he wondered how many new scars she had now, how many he had let her acquire by abandoning her a Cyrus broke away from her as Aisling cleared her throat. He turned and looked at the dark elf, who was back to her normal appearance, white hair and all. Her face was only slightly less inscrutable than of old, but he knew betrayal when he saw it. aWe have to get out of here,a he said, and heard Windrider whinny in agreement.

aThe city is surrounded?a Cattrine asked. Cyrus nodded. aThere is a small dock in the bottom of the castle, there is a spiral ramp just outside the throne rooma"a aThe city is going to be destroyed unless we do something,a Cyrus said. aThe scourge will consume it whole. We need to save these people.a aWhatever we do,a Jaanda said, his hands still waving vaguely in the motions of a seamstress spinning a tapestry, amay I suggest we do quickly? I grow weary of this, and I suspect these soldiers will not be happy that we are standing here in the midst of a floor covered in their anointed Kingas blood.a aEasily fixed,a Aisling said, and turned to the nearest guard, running a dagger across his throat. A spray of blood caused Cyrus to blanch, and by then she had killed three more the same way. aWhat?a she gave a caustic look over her shoulder at the silence as she killed another. aThey would have happily done the same to us and still will when they awaken if weare here and unwilling to fight them.a Cyrus exchanged a look with Cattrine, who gave him the faintest nod of approval. He started toward the line of soldiers that was in front of the balcony, but Martaina ran swiftly and cut all their throats in seconds. Cyrus blinked at her. aI guess Terian was right about that one thing aa She gave him a frown, and he shrugged.