CHAPTER THREE
Sophia could only wait as the fleet advanced on Ashton. As her fleet advanced. Even here and now, after everything that had happened, it was hard to remember that all of this was hers. Every life on the ships around her, every lord who sent men, every piece of land from which they came, was her responsibility.
Theres a lot to take responsibility for, Sophia whispered to Sienne, the forest cat purring as she brushed against Sophias legs, winding around her with her own impatience.
There had been a fleets worth of ships anyway as they left Ishjemme, but since then more and more vessels had joined them, coming in down Ishjemmes coasts or from the small islands along the way, even coming out from the Dowagers kingdom as those loyal to her came to join in the assault.
There were so many soldiers there with her now. Enough soldiers to maybe win this war. Enough soldiers to wipe Ashton from the map, if she chose it.
It will be all right, Lucas sent across to her, obviously sensing her disquiet.
People will die, Sophia sent back.
But they are here because they choose to be, Lucas replied. He walked up to put a hand on her shoulder. Honor them by not throwing those lives away, but do not lessen what they offer by holding back.
I think its one of those things thats easier to say than to do, Sophia said aloud. She reached down to ruffle Siennes ears automatically.
Possibly, Lucas admitted. He looked ready for war in a way that Sophia did not, a blade by his side and pistols set at his belt. Sophia guessed that she just looked impossibly round with the weight of her unborn child, unarmed and unarmored as she stood there.
But not unready, Lucas sent. He gestured to the rear of the ship. Our commanders await.
Mostly, that meant her cousins and her uncle. They held this together as surely as Sophia did, but there were other men there too: clan chiefs and minor lords, hard men who still offered bows as Sophia approached, her brother and her forest cat by her side.
Are we ready? she asked, looking over to her uncle and trying to look like the queen that they all needed her to be.
There are still decisions to make, Lars Skyddar said. We know what we are trying to achieve, but now we need to decide on the specifics.
Whats to decide? her cousin Ulf demanded, in his usual bluff tone. We get the men together, pound the walls with cannon, then charge in.
This explains a lot about the way you hunt, Ulfs sister Frig said, with a wolf-like smile. We should encircle the city like a noose, closing in.
We need to be ready for a siege, Hans said, cautious as ever.
It seemed that everyone had their own idea of how it should go, and a part of Sophia wished that she could stand back, leaving all of this to those with wiser heads, more knowledge of war. She knew she couldnt, though, and that the cousins would argue forever if she let them do it. That meant the only way to do this was to choose.
When will we reach the city? she asked, trying to think.
Probably dusk, her uncle said.
Its too late for a simple assault then, she said, thinking of the time shed spent in the city at night. I know Ashtons streets. Trust me, if we try to charge through them in the dark, it wont end well.
A siege then, Hans said, seeming pleased by the prospect, or maybe just that his plan was the one being chosen.
Sophia shook her head. A siege hurts the wrong people, and doesnt help the right ones. The citys old walls only protect the inner part of the city, and you can bet that the Dowager would starve the poorest to feed herself. Meanwhile, every moment we wait, Sebastian is in danger.
What then? her uncle asked. Do you have a plan, Sophia?
We will anchor in front of Ashton when we get there, she said. We will send out messages for them to surrender.
They wont do it, Hans said. Even if we offer them quarter.
Sophia shook her head. She knew that much. The Dowager wont believe that anyone else would have more mercy than her. But the illusion that we are giving them time to surrender will buy us time for half our men to move around to the landward side of the city. They will take the outskirts quietly. The people there have no love for the Dowager.
Do they have any more for an invader? Lucas asked.
It was a good question, but then, her brother had a knack for asking good questions.
I hope so, Sophia said. I hope theyll remember who we are, and what things were like before the Dowager. She looked over to Hans. Youll lead the forces there. I need someone who can keep the men disciplined, and not slaughter ordinary people.
I will see to it, Hans assured her, and Sophia knew that he would.
Sophia turned to Ulf and Frig. You two will take a small force close to the river gates. If the men I sent made it inside, those will open. Your job will be to help them hold it until the rest of us can attack. The main fleet will land, and well move in under cover of the ships cannons.
It sounded like a good plan. She hoped it was, at least. The alternative was that shed just condemned men she commanded to death.
It is a good plan, Lucas sent to her.
I just hope it works, Sophia replied.
A third voice joined them then, coming in across the water. It will. Ill make sure it does.
Sophia turned and saw a smaller cluster of ships approaching. They had a disreputable look to them, seeming like the kind of things mercenaries or bandits might have chosen. It was her sisters voice that rang out from them, though.
Kate? Youre here?
Im here, she sent back. And I brought the most disreputable free company there is with me. Lord Cranston says that he will be honored to serve.
That thought cheered Sophia almost as much as the presence of her sister there. It wasnt just the extra fighting men, although Sophia would take all she could get right then. It was the fact that her sister was back with the fighting company shed enjoyed being part of so much, and
Is Will there? Sophia asked.
He is, Kate replied. Sophia could feel the happiness there. I will see you soon, my sister. Save some enemies for me.
Im sure there will be plenty to go around.
Kate is coming, Sophia said to Lucas.
I know, her brother said. I felt her thoughts. Id thought Id have to wait until we returned to finally meet her.
And find our parents after that, Sophia said. She knew she shouldnt be thinking so far ahead yet. She should be concentrating on the battle to come, but it was almost impossible to keep her thoughts there. She was too busy thinking about everything that might flow from it. She would get Sebastian back. She would free the Dowagers people from the crushing weight of her rule. They would find their parents.
Kate will be as excited as we are to find our parents, Sophia said. More. Im not sure she even has memories of them to keep her going.
Soon, well all have more than that, Lucas said.
I hope so, Sophia replied. She couldnt help worrying though. Do you have it?
Lucas nodded, obviously understanding what she meant. He brought out the flat disc made from interlocking bands of metal, glowing with bright, jumbled lines as he touched it. When Sophia brought her hand to rest on the metal too, the segments of the device spun into place, revealing the outlines of landmasses, from the Dowagers kingdom to distant shapes that must have been the Far Colonies and the Silk Lands. It was tantalizingly close to telling them what they needed to know; there just wasnt anything to tell them where their parents might be now. Sophia guessed that would come when Kate joined them. She hoped it would.
Keep the device safe, Sophia said. If we lose it
Lucas nodded. I have protected it this far. Im more concerned about keeping you and Kate safe.
Sophia hadnt thought about that. The three of them were about to head into the middle of a battle. If one of them were to fall in that battle, they might never find their parents. It would be a double blow, losing the promise of their mother and father even as they mourned a brother or sister.
You have to stay safe too, Sophia said. And Im not just saying that because I want to find our parents.
I know, Lucas said. And I will do all I can. Official Ko had me trained well.
And Kate learned plenty from the witch who tried to claim her, Sophia said.
If shes half as deadly alone as she was when she was throwing me around the castle, shell be fine, Lucas said. The question is you, Sophia. I know you have Sienne, but will you be safe in the middle of a battle?
I wont be in the middle, Sophia promised. She put a protective hand over her belly. But Ill do whatever I have to do to make sure my child has a father.
She will, Lucas said, and there was something about the certainty of it that made Sophia look at him. She knew that shed seen glimpses of things in her dreams. She wondered if Lucas had too.
Did you see something? Sophia asked.
Lucas shook his head. I have some talent for it, but I think you got more of it. What I mostly see for tomorrow is blood.
That was easy enough to see even without the magic that brought dreams to both of them. Sophia looked out again, and now there was a coastline on the horizon, a speck of a city sitting in it.
Ashton, Sophia said. She hadnt seen it in what seemed like forever.
The city spread out like a stain on the landscape, its buildings old, its expanse sprawling beyond its walls. Part of their fleet was already breaking off, Hans moving to land further along the coast and take the outskirts.
The rest of them moved closer, signal flags flying to coordinate their movements. They anchored well out of cannon range, and small boats lowered, complete with messengers and the demand to surrender. Sophia knew that Ulf and Frig would be preparing their own small boats to sneak close to the city before the battle started, ready for the river gates to open to them.
Sophia could see the ships waiting there, ready for war in response to whatever messages had reached them. Not enough to stop a fleet their size, not pinned against the shore like that. As they approached closer, Sophia could hear trumpets sounding, see signal fires being lit.
She looked past it all to the palace and the noble quarter. Sebastian was somewhere in there, held in a cell, waiting for her rescue.
We could still charge in, the way Cousin Ulf wants, Lucas said.
Sophia looked at the sky. The sun was already falling, sending red fingers across the horizon. She had to force herself to shake her head. It was one of the hardest things shed ever done.
We cant risk a night attack, she said. We need to stick to the plan.
Then we attack at dawn, Lucas said.
Sophia nodded. At dawn, everything would be determined. They would see if she got her familys kingdom back, along with the man she loved, or if they were all condemned to death.
We attack at dawn, she said.
CHAPTER FOUR
Kate stood with the sea breeze running across her face, feeling truly free for the first time that she could remember. Seeing Ashton approaching in the distance brought back memories of the life shed had there for so long as one of the Unclaimed, but those memories didnt own her anymore, and the anger that came with them felt more like a dull ache than anything fresh.
She felt Lord Cranston approaching before he reached her. That much of her powers had come back. That was hers, not something that Siobhan or her fountain had given her.
Were attacking at dawn, my lord, she said, turning.
Lord Cranston smiled at that. A traditional time for it, although theres no need to call me that now, Kate. Were the ones sworn to serve you, your highness.
Your highness. Kate suspected that she would never get used to being called that. Especially not by the man who had been one of the first to give her a place in the world where she fit in.
And theres really no need to call me that, Kate countered.
Lord Cranston pulled off a surprisingly elegant courtiers bow. Its who you are now, but all right, Kate. Shall we pretend that were back in the camp, and youre learning tactics from me?
I suspect I still have plenty to learn, Kate said. She doubted that shed learned half of what Lord Cranston had to teach in the time shed been a part of his company.
Oh, undoubtedly, Lord Cranston said, so, a lesson. Tell me, in the history of Ashton, how has it been taken?
Kate thought. It wasnt something that their lessons had covered so far.
I dont know, she admitted.
It has been done by treachery, Lord Cranston said, counting the options on his fingers. It has been done by winning the rest of the kingdom, so that there is no point in holding out. It has been done in the distant past through magic.
And by force? Kate asked.
Lord Cranston shook his head. Although cannon may change that, of course.
My sister has a plan, Kate said.
And it seems well done, Lord Cranston said, but what happens to plans in battles?
That, at least, Kate knew. They fall apart. She shrugged. Then its a good job that we have the finest of the free companies working for us to fill the gaps.
And its a good job that I have the girl who can summon mists and move faster than a man can follow, Lord Cranston replied.
Kate must have hesitated just a second or two too long before replying.
What is it? Lord Cranston asked.
I broke away from the witch who gave me that power, she said. I dont know how much is left. I still have some skill for reading minds, but the speed, the strength, is gone. I guess that kind of magic is too.
She still knew the theory of it, still had the feeling of it in her, but the paths to it felt burned raw by the loss of connection to Siobhans fountain. It seemed that all things had their price, and this was one she was willing to pay.
At least, if it didnt cost all of them their lives.
Lord Cranston nodded. I see. Can you still use a sword?
Im not sure, Kate admitted. That had been something shed learned under Siobhan, after all, yet the memories of her training were still there, still fresh. Shed won what she knew through days of dying at the hands of spirits, over and over.
Then I think that we should find out before a battle in earnest, dont you? Lord Cranston suggested. He stepped back, giving a formal duelists bow, his eyes carefully on Kate, and drew his sword with a hiss of metal.
With live blades? Kate said. What if I dont have the control? What if
Life is full of what-ifs, Lord Cranston said. Battle, even more so. Ill not test you with a training blade only to find that your skill falls apart when theres real risk.
It still seemed like a dangerous way to test her skills. She didnt want to hurt Lord Cranston by accident.
Draw your blade, Kate, he said.
Reluctantly, she did so, the saber fitting neatly into her hand. There were the remnants of runes etched into the blade where Siobhan had worked on it, but those were dull things now, barely there unless the light caught them. Kate took her guard.