Paole set his pencil down and shuffled his papers together. “Perfect timing.”
“Ah, horses don’t care much about human affairs.”
Gil held the lamp while Paole used his gift to check on the health of mother and foal. “She’s doing fine. You’ll wait out here? Then so will I.”
They sat together on a hay bale and watched the mare shifting and panting, walking around the stall in an agitated fashion. Yveni wandered out to look and a few minutes later, so did Ferdi.
“I hope she’s not shy,” Gil said dryly, looking at the audience.
Luna ignored them. A few minutes later she lay down, arching to see the burden she was trying to expel. Gil remained unconcerned. Not long afterwards, the tiny hooves emerged, and in surprising little time, the foal came out in a sudden rush. Gil still didn’t move, murmuring something about “she’ll handle it”. And so the mare did, cleaning the foal and nudging it to its shaky feet. She continued to lick it until the foal found her teats. As he began to suckle, a ripple of relief went around the watchful humans.
“He’s lovely. A fine colt,” Yveni said. “Pity she didn’t have him before the others left.”
“I can’t bear the idea of them being slaughtered by soldiers.” Ferdi turned to Paole. “Do you think I should put them down now?”
Yveni inhaled sharply. Gil waited for Paole’s answer. Why was the old man asking him? “I say wait until you have to, Ferdi.”
“We could set them loose,” Yveni suggested.
“Kinder to kill them than to do that,” Gil said. “I hate killing healthy horses.”
“Can she be ridden?” Ferdi asked.
“In a couple of days. Not by you, though. You’re too heavy, and so is Paole.”
They all turned to look at Yveni. “No, sorry,” he said as firmly as he knew how. “That won’t work. Ferdi, Manel could take Luna and the colt. If we gave him a day’s start, he won’t be caught up in the fight. He’s not going to be much use as a soldier, he’s too small. But he could take these two and meet the evacuees. They could use him and the horses.”
Ferdi nodded. “Yes, they could, so that’s what we’ll do. The boy’s barely sixteen and his voice hasn’t even broken properly. I should have sent him away this afternoon. Thank you, Yveni. An honourable solution, and to that, I insist we open a bottle of wine and toast my new grandchild.”
Paole smiled at the description. Yes, a good plan, and though they might be all doomed, three more lives would be spared. Cause for celebration indeed.
They made a little party of it in the end, the six of them in the kitchen, eating Yveni’s good cooking and drinking a dark, rich wine that Ferdi had laid down years ago, intending it for something special. “If this isn’t something worth opening it for,” he declared, “I don’t know what is.”
“What will you name him?” Yveni asked.
“Ah, I hadn’t thought about it. Paole, I’m giving you that honour. A new life in your new life.”
“Me? Uh…all right.” He lifted the glass of deep tawny wine and considered. “I wish to call him…Mathias.”
Yveni sent him a startled look. None of the others knew the significance.
“A fine name,” Ferdi said. “To Luna, Mathias, and to our womenfolk.”
“To freedom,” Paole said.
“To shooting straight,” Yveni added, and Gil laughed.
Ferdi sent them all to their beds early, since they’d be roused at dawn. Everyone had taken it for granted that Paole would sleep in his old bed in Yveni’s room, and he didn’t want to make a fuss by arguing.
He used the washroom and went to the bedroom. He found Yveni, still fully dressed, sitting on his bed. “Nervous?” Paole asked.
“Yes. You?”
“Not really. I thought I was a dead man two years ago. The way I look at it, I’ve been on borrowed time ever since.”
“I didn’t save your life only to have you lose it in battle!”
“I didn’t set you free for the same reason. Yet here we are, even though you had your chance to go.”
Yveni tilted his chin stubbornly. “I won’t leave the defence of those I care for to other people ever again. I did it once, and that’s enough.”
“I understand. I’m not arguing with you. You should go to bed.”
Yveni nodded, staring at the covers. “Can I ask a favour? May I sleep with you tonight?”
“Yveni…”
“Please, Paole. If I’m to die, I don’t want to spend my last few hours and days apart from you. No one cares now if I have a lover or not. I just…want you to hold me. Please.”
The little wobble in that last word undid Paole completely. He went to the lad and put his arms around him, and Yveni pressed himself against Paole’s chest with a sob. “There, there, sweetness,” Paole murmured, stroking his silky hair. “Undress and hop in.”
Yveni looked up, eyes wet. Paole bent and kissed his lips.
“I’ve missed you,” Yveni whispered. “I never stopped.”
Paole didn’t dare speak of his own feelings. “Now I’m here. Go on, lad.”
They were soon tucked under the covers of Yveni’s bed, Yveni holding Paole crushingly close as if he was afraid Paole would run away in the night. “I’m afraid to die,” he whispered. “Am I a coward?”
“No. Just human.”
“We can’t win, you know that.”
“Maybe not. We can only do our best. Sleep now.”
Paole wasn’t afraid to die. But he was dreadfully afraid of losing Yveni. Did that make
him
a coward?
Yveni was firmly held in Paole’s arms when Gil woke him by shaking his shoulder. He wondered if he should explain, but Gil made no comment on their position. “Time to go, lad. Breakfast and then the square.”
He left them. Yveni sighed. The secret was out then. He twisted and kissed Paole’s forehead. “You awake?”
“Yes.” His big arms squeezed Yveni briefly, then set him free. “Go. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
In the servant’s kitchen, Gil was cooking eggs and griddlecakes, and had made a huge pot of tea. No one else was up. “Where are the boys?” Yveni asked.
“Still a-bed. We’re needed first. Did I tell you the governors really aren’t happy about you being here?”
“Too bad. They need me. You too, and your sons.”
“They do. Here, eat.”
He set a plate down in front of Yveni and took another for himself. Yveni had little appetite, but it would be a long day, and who knew when he’d eat another cooked meal?
“Sleep well?” Gil asked.
“Fine, thank you.”
“And Paole?”
“Him as well.” Yveni looked up. “Please don’t tell anyone.”
“Lad, what would I tell? Two friends comforting each other before battle? No shame in that, or anything else.”
His stare went on so long that Yveni had to look away. He shovelled some eggs into his mouth and swallowed. “If we survive, I’ll tell you about it.”
“If we survive, I’ll listen. You could have talked before. I tried to let you know I was sympathetic.”
“I…couldn’t. It’s complicated.”
“No doubt.” He looked past Yveni’s shoulder. “Good morning, Paole. Eggs, cakes, tea. Help yourself.”
Paole grunted, never being at his finest in the morning. Yveni ate in silence and prayed no one would say anything awkward.
Gil was more concerned about his mare and the new foal, and as soon as he finished eating, he dashed out to check on her, leaving Paole and Yveni to finish their meal.
Paole reached for the teapot again. “Did he say anything?”
“Uh…a little. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Me either. Did it help?” He looked up with those piercing green eyes and stared into Yveni’s soul.
“You know it did. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Are you done? You’d better collect your pack. I’ll find you in the square.”
Yveni brushed his hand along Paole’s shoulder and wished he could steal a kiss. But he’d already pushed further than was fair. He didn’t want Paole angry at him. Not now.
All day Gil and Yveni and two hundred archers trained on the beach, firing again and again at targets set up on the dunes. Farther along, slingshots sent rocks hurtling into the sea, and at dummies set up on stands. Other dummies were used as sword and lance practice. Every so often, the dull thuds of explosions came drifting across to them. Paole’s work, for sure. They had too few cannon balls to waste on training.
The greatest weapon they had was surprise. Knowing where the enemy would land, and what tactics they’d employ gave the city a huge advantage. Most peoples other than Uemiriens discounted seers as witches and fantasists, so most likely the invaders would not know they were expected. If a large enough response was launched quickly, the Uemiriens
might
kill enough of the invading army to force a retreat or surrender, or to allow the second column of the defence to knock them out. But a good commander always expected surprise.
By sunset Yveni, exhausted, could hardly speak from shouting all day. He had blisters on his hands and a nice case of sunburn on his face and neck. Gil was in little better shape. “A very early night for you, my lad. But good work today. Your father would be proud of you.”
“Huh, you mean Weapons-master Alexis would be. I wish he was here.”
“Me too. But your father would have been pleased to see you take your responsibility so seriously. I was pleased to see it as well.”
Yveni smiled. “Thanks.”
“Come along. Ferdi said he’d feed us, and Paole’s bound to have something for our blisters.”
Gil’s sons joined them as they walked back to Ferdi’s house, but only to speak to Gil and tell him how their day went. They were staying with friends and didn’t want to impose on Ferdi, though Ferdi would have gladly had them. Gil spoke with them for some time and accepted hugs from all four before sending them off.
“Jaime’s worried about Maria and the baby,” he confided as they entered Ferdi’s house. “It’s hard to be a new father.”
“Being a father at all. I suppose I’ll never find out now.”
Gil wagged a finger. “Enough of that talk, lad. We have a real chance, or were you not as impressed as I was today with our archers?”
“I was, but what if the soldiers have guns and armour? Or cannon on their ships with a long range?”
“Armour has weaknesses and guns can jam. No ship will come that close because of the cannons at the fort. I’m not saying it’s easy, but you might father those children after all.”
“Have to be married for that.”
“Aye. As soon as we defeat this army, I’ll help you pick out a bride.”
Paole came down the stairs at that point and had to have heard Gil’s remark. Yveni flushed. “He’s joking, Paole.”
Paole shrugged. “I’m sure. You two look a mess.”
“We are. Blisters and burns—any cures, Master Healer?”
“I’ll have a look. Go wash. I’ve just cleaned the stink off myself.”
“Did you scrub your eyebrows off too?” Yveni asked.
Paole touched his forehead and looked a little abashed. “Ah, no. We had a bit of excitement, but it’s going well. Go on. I’ll meet you downstairs. Ferdi’s cooking.”
All Yveni really wanted was fluid. It had been hot, thirsty work on the beach with precious little respite. He and Gil both headed straight for the teapot.
“Have some honey in your tea,” Paole ordered. “Good for your throat. I can put some salve on your face and neck when we go to bed.”
Yveni’s face went even hotter. Gil only glanced at him. “Got any salve for me?”
“Of course. Want it now or later?”
“Later. I’m going to take a look at the horses first.”
“I’ll come with you,” Yveni said.
“Take your tea.” Paole shoved the mug into his hands.
“Good idea.” Gil grabbed his drink too. “Why don’t you all go ahead and eat? Yveni and I will fill our bellies once we’ve slaked our thirst.”
He picked up a lamp and Yveni followed him out into the courtyard. Luna whickered softly as she heard them, and Gil made soothing sounds as he approached. They found Mathias the colt suckling lustily, and his mother calmly eating from her hay crib.