Mörgain shrugged. I am to let you know we were provoked. She reached inside her wolf-fur cloak and took out something round and coated in tar. She turned it around and Croy saw it had a face on one side. A human head, hacked off and preserved in gruesome fashion.
It was enough to churn his guts. Even worse, he recognized the face. It belonged to a holy man who had once lived in an old fort just west of the Whitewall. Herward was his name, and he was one of the gentlest souls Croy had ever met.
This one crossed the new pass a week ago. He came to where we were camped for the autumn and spread lies amongst my people. The Great Chieftain of the clans considers this an act of invasion on the part of Skrae.
Herward? An invader? Croy cried out in disbelief. He was a devotee of the Lady! Perhaps he was not entirely sane. In fact the hermit had been driven mad by visions and black mead. StillHe was no threat to you.
He spread lies, Mörgain said again. He spoke of a god called the Lady. He demanded we give her our worship. In the east we have only one deityDeath, mother of us all. We will not be converted to your decadent religion.
The king went and took the head from her. He looked down into the distorted features. This is base rationalization and you know it, Mörgain. One crazed preacher is not an invasion force.
I have come for two reasons only, Mörgain said, and they are both now achieved. I came to give you warning, for among my people, only base cowards attack without warning. We are coming. You have been warned.
And the other reason? Ulfram asked.
To prove I have more courage in my heart than any man.
The king nodded sadly. I imagine you must. Because you would make an excellent hostage. I could seize you right now and force your clansmen to return to their steppes in exchange for your safety.
Mörgain laughed.
Croy knew that laugh. Hed heard a deeper, slightly louder version before. Mörget had laughed like that. It was the laugh of one who found violent death to be the ultimate jest.
Any man who touches me will die. Perhaps some man will kill me, or even take me alive, she said. But he will still die. I will be avenged, even if it takes fifty thousand warriors. If it takes every clan of the east, their bodies piled up outside these walls to make siege towers. If it takes the last drop of blood in the last vein of my people, the man who touches me will die. Now. Dare you take me hostage?
Croy turned to watch the kings face. There was no fear there. He refused to be intimidatedor at least he refused to let Mörgain see that her threats had worked. Croy felt a certain pride at that. This was the man he served.
Not when I have a better use for you. Go from here in peace, Ulfram said, and take word to your Great Chieftain. Ill meet with him under the flag of parley, in a place and time of his choosing. Go. I will not stay you. Frankly I dont want you in my home another second.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
After Mörgain left, no one spoke for some while. Croy grew uneasy, standing against the wall with his hand on his sword hilt. The king, his liege, was clearly distressedUlfram sat in his chair, chin in hand, deep in thought.
Its far worse than I thought, the king said, at last. I thought they would give us a chance to pay tribute in exchange for peace. He shook his head. CroySir Croy. You were there. You saw the mountain come down. How wide is this pass? How many men can march abreast through it?
Croys brow furrowed as he considered that. When the mountain fell, it wreaked terrible damage on the surrounding land. The pass is perhaps a quarter of a mile across.
That big? That big! Ulfram got up and ran to the door. He waved outside and Croy heard footsteps in the hall. My scouts told me it was passable, but they forgot to mention it was wide enough to march an entire army through. Incompetence everywhere! A hole that big in my kingdom. The barbarians will flood through. Therell be no stopping them.
Your majesty, Sir Hew said. I suspect you knew this was coming.
The king looked up at his Captain of the Guard. I knew they were massing the clans just east of the mountains, yes.
Already youve begun the process of conscription. Well have an army ready before they arrive, Hew went on.
An untrained rabble, Ulfram told him. He waved one hand in frustration. And only a few real knights to lead them.
We could send to the northern kingdoms, to hire more soldiers. The kingdoms of Skilfing, Ryving, Maelfing and Anfald were constantly at war with each other, and in times of peace they hired their soldiers out as mercenaries.
Already done, the king said. Skilfing has promised to come to our aid as soon as theyre finished making their own war on Maelfing. They wont arrive for many weeks, thoughand the barbarians are only days away.
What of the Old Empire? Croy asked.
The king shook his head. The first settlers of Skrae had been exiles from the continent across the southern sea, a land ruled for thousands of years by a grand imperial court. I sent an envoy as soon as I heard about the new pass, of course, Ulfram said, but the Emperor there has no love for us, not even after all this time. And I wouldnt trust him if he did send us troops. Theyd probably beat the barbarians, then stick around to conquer us as well. No, well have to rely on the army we have. But weve had too much peace, for too long! Barely any man in Skrae remembers how to lift a sword. Were fat and soft. The barbariansif theyre anything like herwill run roughshod over us.
One by one, the kings councilors filed in from the hall. The exchequer, the seneschal, the chancellor, the Duke of Greenmarsh, the Archpriest of the Lady, many more Croy had never met. The Baron of Easthull nodded in a friendly way to Croy, but was quickly drawn into conversation with a man who wore the golden chain of the keeper of the royal seals. These were the most powerful men in Skraeand unlike their king they all looked terrified.
A table was brought in and maps unfurled across its surface. Croy was asked a thousand questions, very few of which he could answer, but he did his best. Cythera had a few more answers, but she lacked any military training and couldnt speak to strategy. Yet the need for information seemed endless. Even Malden was interrogated about what hed seen of the land near Cloudblades ruin.
Everyone crowded around the maps, working out where the invasion would come from. The forestherewill slow them down a bit, but we can expect at most ten days grace before they reach the river Strow, Sir Hew said.
If we could only hold them off until winter, the king said, wringing his hands. Just a few months. No army can march properly through a bank of snow. Theyd have to either make camp where we could harry them, or, more likely, withdraw into the mountains and wait for spring. By then we could fortify the pass and seal them back where they belong.
There might be a way to slow them at least, Croy suggested. Here, he said, pointing to the map, quite near where the new pass lay, there is an old fort. Its where we met Herward. Its half in ruins, but the walls still stand. My liege, give me five hundred men, and Ill hold it for a month, though it cost me my life.
The king stared at the map. Then he took a step back from the table and shook his head. No, he told Croy.
The king stared at the map. Then he took a step back from the table and shook his head. No, he told Croy.
I beg you, Majesty! Allow me this chance to prove my honor.
I said no, Sir Croy. Your five hundred would be overrun, eventually. Every man of them slain, and still you wouldnt buy us enough time. I cant sacrifice that many on a noble gesture. No, we will make our defense here, at Helstrow.
Sir Hew cleared his throat but the king shot him a piercing glance. I have spoken, he announced.
Silence fell across the room.
When word of this gets out, everyone in the outer bailey will try to flee. I cant allow that. Seal the gates of the outer baileyall of them. No man will leave Helstrow, not until I bid it, Ulfram declared. Redouble our efforts to conscript the population. I want every soul within these walls dedicated to preparing for the attack. As for you three Ancient Bladesgo now, and make yourselves useful. Train as many of the rabble as you can. My councilors and I have a great deal of work to do, and youre wasting our time.
Croys cheeks burned. His heart raced in his chest. He bowed deep and said, My liege. Then he nodded at Cythera and Malden and hurried them out of the chamber.
It was not until they were beyond the gates of the palace that any of them spoke again. It was Cythera who spoke first. I cant believe he just let Balint go like thatafter all she did!
We cannot gainsay him, Croy told her. He is the Ladys appointed sovereign, and his word is law.
Hes a man. And any man can be a fool, Malden insisted.
Croys blood surged to hear the slander, but he knew better than to take Maldens words too seriously. The thief didnt understand what he was talking about. Hes a king, and thats all that matters. It is his right to do as he sees fit, for all our sake.
Not mine. I know nothing of war, Malden admitted, but hes making a mistake, isnt he? Sir Hew seemed to think your strategy could have worked. It could have kept the barbarians bottled up. Instead hes going to just let them march up to his gate so he can have a nice chat with their king. Or whatever it is they have instead of a king. Hes going to talk to them, when all they want is to destroy us.
Croys honor wouldnt allow him to agree. But he knew enough of military history to say, If the barbarians come through the pass unhindered, theyll have time before the first snow falls to establish a strong foothold inside Skraes borders. Once theyre here, itll be a hard thing to drive them out again.
The thief placed a hand on Croys shoulder. Croy could feel Maldens fingers shaking. IIm not good enough with this sword to fight in battle, he said. I cant stay here. I cant stand beside you.
Croy closed his eyes. Cowardly words, but truthful ones. No, Malden, you cant. Which is why youre leaving Helstrow tonightand youre taking Cythera with you.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
After darkness fell, Malden and Croy headed back into the outer bailey. The air was crisp with autumns chill, but Helstrows streets were full of people heading this way and that, as if they didnt know where to go but didnt dare go to their homes. The kingsmen were out in force, hauling away anyone they could find who could be legally conscripted. Even the slightest offense was enough to get a man arrested that night. Public drunkenness, failure to keep a pig off the streetthings that were commonplaces in peace time had become hanging offenses, it seemed. Nor were the women of Helstrow left unaccosted. They were herded toward churches and public houses, where they would be put to work making bandages and bowstrings.
Malden still wore his old green cloak, but Croy had put on a tabard with the colors of the king, green and gold, and the people they passed gave them a wide berth. The swords on their hips probably made room for them as well.
The two of them passed a bloody-handed preacher standing on the lip of a well, shouting for all who would hear it the old religion of the bloodgodheresy in a fortress-town dedicated to the Lady. More than a few young men had stopped to listen, perhaps thinking Sadu could save them from the coming barbarians. When the crowd saw Croys colors, though, they ran off into the night.
Theyd do better putting their faith in the king, Croy said, through clenched teeth. He found the piglet the holy man had sacrificed hidden in the wells bucket. He tossed it angrily into the street.
Theyre terrified, Malden told him. He could sympathize. Theyll turn to anything that offers some hope. He looked ahead into the dark street, lit only by the moon. Is it much farther now?
The conscripts you want are being held in a churchyard by the outer wall, Croy told him. Its only a few streets from here. Once you find these men
Its better if you dont know what Ill do after that, Malden told him. Well part ways as soon as theyre freed.
Croy nodded. Malden, he said, this may be the last time I have a chance to talk to you about something that has been troubling me.
Malden tensed, wondering what the knight was talking about. Was he going to change his mind now, and demand that Malden stay and help with the defense of Helstrow?
There is no time for Cythera and I to be wed before you leave, Croy went on, looking away from Maldens face. I have her promise, but Malden. Ive never doubted your friendship. Yet I saw something, under Cloudblade. Something I cannot explain.
Maldens heart stopped beating for a moment. You saw her kiss me.
Croy couldnt seem to speak.
This might be the moment, Malden thought, when he tells me hes going to have to kill me. He considered which way he would run.
But Croy lived by a code of honor. And that meant he had to give a man a chance to defend himself. Why did she do it? he asked.
The thief licked his lips. What he said next was going to have to be very carefully worded. Cythera had said she would tell Croy everything when they returned to Ness. Implicit in that was that he shouldnt tell Croy himself. He couldnt tell Croy that he and Cythera loved each other. That the betrothal between the knight and Cythera was already broken.
There was good reason for that silence. Still, Malden burned to have it all out in the open. It would make life so much simpler. In all likelihood, it would also make his life much shorter. Yet he found he couldnt quite lie. Allow me to explain. At that momentthe moment of that kissI was moments from certain death. The assassin, Prestwicke, was going to kill me. I was a condemned man and I had no hope of survival. I begged her for that kiss, as the last request of a dying man. In such a case, what woman could refuse?
Croys eyes were wide and his face had turned bright red. He was embarrassed, Malden realized, to even have to ask. If another man had caught Malden kissing his betrothed, a lesser man than Croy he doubted that explanation would have sufficed. Yet Malden saw other emotions in Croys face. Gratitude. Relief. Croy had wanted so badly for there to be a simple, innocent explanation that he probably would have accepted anything Malden said. Anything other than the full truth.
Surely you dont doubt her constancy, Malden insisted. Her honor
Her honor is my honor, and I would die to defend it. And youre right, she could not refuse you in a moment like that. She is such a compassionate woman. You see why I love her? Do you understand the strength of my feelings?