Tears of War (62 page)

K
ellinar walked through the twisting streets, sensing a change in the Mallay as the people ferreted away the weapons brought to them from Galdrilene. A month with purpose had given them hope. The men walked with straighter backs, the women smiled more. They all knew the price in lives was going to be a heavy one, yet still the growing pride among them was palpable. The people were taking action, refusing to let the Trilene walk all over them.

The boiling point was near. Already the city guards found it more difficult to move about the city as people ignored them and blocked roads. Little infractions to cause trouble and irritation. Infractions that at first had them arresting people left and right until the jails were so full of prisoners that the Trilene had no choice but to let many of them go.

Strangely, as the people of the Mallay grew bolder, the Trilene District grew quieter. An itch between his shoulder blades told him something was wrong. He felt the letter in his pocket. Tonight he would write Arianna and fly to Las Fane to give it to her.

Belan appeared silently at Kellinar’s side as he approached the market square. “Something isn’t right.”

Kellinar raised an eyebrow. “You think? The Trilene are never this quiet in the face of such insolence.”

“It’s more than that.” Belan shook his head. “They may be quiet about the Mallay, but there are whispers flying all over the Trilene District. Lord Vesnar is keeping an ear out but he’s heard nothing set in stone yet. Still, something is giving them a feeling of security.”

Had Vesnar really heard nothing or was he holding out on them? How far could a lord from the Trilene be trusted? Kellinar watched the people in the market square in silence. How many of them would live through this? Had he been wrong to suggest a rebellion? He ran his hand over the close spaced braids that ran tight against his head. “It’s too late to stop things now. I hope I wasn’t wrong to bring this on them.”

Belan clapped him on the shoulder. “You merely gave them a possible direction. They set it in motion knowing the challenges and the price that will have to be paid.”

Kellinar looked Belan in the eye. “Do they know, really? Trilene has never seen a war quite like this. They know many of them will die, they know in the end if they lose the war then they may lose their homes and the only place they have ever known. Knowing it and actually facing it are two different things.”

Anevay came walking out of the market, a smile on her face as she examined a beautiful scarf worked in reds and browns. Her dark, expressive eyes lit up when she saw him and his heart warmed at the sight of her. The way the sun glinted off her black hair and made her creamed coffee skin glow took his breath away.

She moved to walk with them. “Good morning, bondmate.”

“Good morning to you too.” He bent to kiss the top of her forehead, savoring the scent of her hair and skin. “Where is Taela?” He made a quick scan of the market square but didn’t see her. Though he did see one of the ladies working a stall turn her back and snub a woman from the Dellar; something that wouldn’t have happened a little over a month ago.

Anevay put an arm around his waist, the shawl looped over her other. “She is flying with Paki this morning.” A small frown crossed her face. “She senses something isn’t quite right. The emotions coming from many of those in the Dellar and Trilene are those of waiting. Biding time. They have something planned.”

On his other side, Belan nodded. “See what I mean. Something is up and it likely isn’t good.”

Kellinar looked at Anevay. “Do you think we made a mistake by instigating this?”

Her eyes softened and a gentle smile touched her lips. “No, my love. I don’t think we did.” She paused and looked around at the cramped buildings and people clad in the cheapest material they could find. “These people deserve better than this. If they are willing to fight for something better, then we should help them.” She turned back to him. “If they hadn’t been willing to fight for freedom, then no amount of instigation would have started all of this.”

He gave her a squeeze. “Whatever is coming, it’s coming soon. Don’t you need to return to Galdrilene and work on that weave of yours?”

Anevay laughed, the sound like music to him. “There is plenty of time to work on it. I’m pretty sure I know how to finish it. After all of this is settled here in Trilene, I will return and work on it for a while.”

Kellinar sighed. Of course he couldn’t convince her to leave Trilene any more than he could convince Taela. At least Anevay didn’t threaten him with knives. A rush of warm love flowed through him when he remembered the way Taela had lost her temper with him a few days before. Her fiery temper was a good match to his. Anevay with her sweet, gentle personality had been quick to douse the flames of temper between them but it hadn’t stopped him from spending some time in bed with Taela, making up with her.

They stopped not far from the Mallay city gate. Kellinar watched the groups of city guards and soldiers guarding the gate. Conspicuously absent were the Keepers, although it was said they now watched for magic users to turn over to the Shadow Riders to deal with.

“How many of them do we have on our side?” Kellinar asked Belan.

Belan blew out a breath while he looked at the sky as if it held the answer. “About half. Many of the common soldiers came from the Mallay you know. Becoming frontline fodder is one of the few ways out of the Mallay.” He brought his eyes back down. “Not as many higher ranking soldiers, which is to be expected. Of course, all of them who are loyal to Lord Vesnar and Lord Telain are with us. There might be one or two of the lower ranking that will side with us. All in all, we might end up with a handful of houses from the Trilene. That leaves the eight high-ranking houses and at least fifteen of the lower ranking Trilene houses against us.”

Kellinar nodded. They had more on their side than he’d thought they would. He glanced up at the walls of the two higher districts. “How many in the Dellar?”

“A little less than half.” Belan said. “I’ve been in battles like this before. To be honest, our odds aren’t good. Only you Dragon Riders give us the advantage.”

Kellinar shook his head. “It won’t be much of an advantage. Shadow Riders are guaranteed to be present. We will end up busy with them and may not be much help. Keep up the weapons training you’re doing in the canyon. The trained soldiers will help, but those just learning may still find themselves cut down in short order.”

Belan nodded and rubbed his hands together. “Sadly, you are most likely right.”

Kellinar stared at the buildings rising up tall around him. Something about the scene felt foreboding and the itch between his shoulder blades grew stronger. His stomach twisted. It was going to happen soon. Thankfully, Mckale and Maleena were recovered and ready to come to their aid, though Maleena had promised to stay out of the actual battle. Kirynn had informed him she wouldn’t miss it for anything. Vaddoc too would come. Not that he had doubted any of them. When he’d visited Calladar to see Mckale and Maleena, and explained the situation, Maleena had gone all mysterious and left after agreeing to stay out of the actual fighting. What did she have up her sleeve?

A flood of anxiety flowed through the bond from Taela. Kellinar met Anevay’s eyes, knowing she had felt it too. In moments, Paki streaked overhead toward the only place she had room to land, in front of the Thieves’ Caves.

Kellinar took off running with Anevay at his side and Belan on their heels. He thanked the dragon bond for the increased stamina of a rider as he ran flat out across the Mallay. Anevay stayed right with him, but they soon left Belan behind.

As they rounded the last twist in the street, Paki was taking off and Taela stood at the bottom of the steps to the terrace. Kellinar slowed as he neared, his eyes sweeping her for any injury. She didn’t speak, only reached out and grabbed his arm and hauled him up the stairs to a more private corner of the terrace.

“There’s an army.” Her voice shook slightly.

“An army?” Kellinar took her hand. “Taela, calm down. What army?”

She took a deep, steadying breath. “To the southwest, coming up from Turindar. A big one. This is what the Trilene has been waiting for. We won’t be fighting just the Trilene and Dellar; we will be taking on the bulk of the Turindari army.”

Kellinar slowly sat in one of the chairs to wait for Belan. “Did they see you?”

Taela flopped next to him and snorted. “Of course not. I may be rattled but I’m not stupid.”

He wrapped an arm around her. “I know you’re not.

Anevay sat quietly on his other side, her hand rubbing up and down his arm. There was nothing to do but wait for Belan and hope he could think of a good course of action. Trying to back down the rebellion, subtle though it had been so far, would be pointless. If the Trilene were calling in favors from Turindar, they meant to wipe out the Mallay regardless of what happened now.

Belan finally came jogging up the stairs, out of breath. “What’s going on?”

Kellinar looked up at him. “Turindar’s army is marching this way. This is going to go bad.”

Belan sank into a chair. “This changes things.” He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and rested his forehead on the heels of his hands.

Silence stretched out. Finally, Belan raised his head and looked at them. “We have to get everyone out of the Mallay.”

Images of what the Mallay would be like with the combination of the Turindar army, those against them in the city, and whatever the Shadow Riders threw out at them ran through his mind. “This has become a giant trap; everyone will be slaughtered in the streets.”

Miya carefully lowered herself to the open space at the bottom of the steps. Serena removed her safety straps and jumped down. She paused to unbuckle the catcher strap and toss it over the saddle. As Miya lifted off, Serena ran up the steps. “There is an army headed this way.”

Taela nodded. “From Turindar, I know. I saw it.”

Serena shook her head. “No, I was farther north. The one I saw is coming from Hanover. I know they caved to the Shadow Riders. I can only assume Hanover sent it to help the Trilene.”

Belan laughed, the sound bitter. “This just gets better and better. Turindar and Haraban both on their way to help annihilate us.”

“Kellinar, I must fly for a while. It will be a little bit before I get back,”
Shryden sent.

Startled by the sudden message, he reached out to the dragon,
“Why, where are you going?”

“I will be back soon.”

Kellinar tried twice more to question the dragon but received no reply. He frowned and looked at Taela and Anevay. “Do either of your dragons know why Shryden suddenly took off?”

Taela shook her head, the confusion on her face mirrored by what he felt through the bond. “No, but Paki has just done the same to me.”

“Latia is still here, but she refuses to answer where the other two went.” Anevay looked shocked. Kellinar was surprised, Latia rarely gave her rider any grief. Unlike some dragons he could think of. He made sure those thoughts broadcasted clearly through his dragon bond with Shryden. Only a sense of amusement came back. The blue was doing a darn good job of hiding his thoughts.

He returned his attention to Belan. “When do we begin getting people out of the city and how do you want to do it?”

“It will have to be under the cover of darkness and before either of those armies get here.” He looked first at Serena, then Taela. “Any estimates on when they will arrive?”

“Not long,” Taela answered. “They are marching a good pace. Some of the supply wagons are lagging a bit but I imagine they will catch up by the time the army stops each night. A week, maybe less.”

Serena nodded. “Miya and Paki compared what they saw. Miya believes the Hanoverian army will arrive the same time as the Turindari.”

“We will spread word of the need to leave this evening after the men come back from the vineyards and docks.” Belan paused and stared into space for a minute before refocusing on them. “It will take several days to get this many people ready to move, especially with women and children. Still though, that should give us enough time.”

Serena frowned. “What about the people in the villages outside the wall?”

“We will send word, but it will be up to them what they do. Outside the walls, they have more freedom to run. Hopefully they choose wisely,” Belan said.