Steel and Sorrow (31 page)

Unexpected? Your corner?

She inclined her head. “My lord, I’m here because of your letter.”

Markus blinked. “Letter? I’m not aware of any letter.”

“The letter stated that you were in contact with Duke Conroy and felt like my presence would speed up any discussions of peace. It also spoke of your father’s declining health.” She paused, concerned and frustrated at the lack of recognition on Markus’ face. “It bore your seal, my lord.”

Markus looked away and rubbed his chin. “I’ll have to look into this letter.” He turned back to Elyse. “I beg your pardon, Your Majesty. But when may I expect the rest of your escort to arrive. I assume you’re bringing in other forces by sea to meet up with your commander as well?”

Elyse looked confused. “No. Nothing like that. The bulk of the army is already with Kaz and Jeldor.”

“Excuse me.” Markus rang a bell and Mase reentered the room, running past the queen. Markus leaned over and whispered in the herald’s ear.

She took a step forward. “My lord—”

He raised a hand and shushed her, stopping Elyse in her tracks, mouth hanging open. Markus then gently pushed Mase away with his other hand and the herald sprinted past her again.

Elyse fumed. “Your father would never dare treat his queen in such a way!”

“You are absolutely right. He would not and that’s why you’re talking to me rather than him.”

“What do you mean? Your father is sick.”

“He is. And what better time to make a change in rule that should have happened years ago?”

Kroke cursed.

I was wrong.

“I don’t know who sent that letter, but there was some truth in it. Besides my father’s health, I have been in contact with Duke Conroy. However, the peace discussed would be of no benefit to you. He and I have formed an alliance. And thanks to your information about Kaz, I know that there will be no reinforcements outside of the army he and Jeldor now field.”

Kroke swore again as fighting erupted from the other side of the doors.

Markus motioned with his hands at either side of the room. “Guards, see that they are secured below. Make sure no harm comes to the queen or her servant unless I say otherwise. If anyone else gives you trouble, hurt them, badly.”

Elyse noted that he eyed Kroke when he spoke and the queen saw the mercenary crouched with a knife in each hand as the guardsmen approached. “Kroke, put them away.”

He didn’t move.

“I said put them away. You are no good to me dead.”

“And you are no good to the realm locked in a cell,” he answered back.

“For my sake, please.”

His arms relaxed and he sheathed his knifes. The guards rushed in and the butt of a spear crashed into the mercenary’s skull.

Chapter 22

Odala paced her tent, turning her nose up at the smell permeating the canvas—the smell of an army. She sorely missed the pampered life she knew in Juanoq. Rather than waking to flowers, fruits, and fresh bread, the jarring stench of blood, musk, and greasy stew woke her each morning. Yesterday, she called for a bath to wash away her own foul odor, but her servants explained that they could not waste resources on such frivolous things.

The stink was only part of it. Clanging armor, shouting officers, and cursing warriors led to many restless nights.

She let out a frustrated sigh.

To make matters worse, Tobin spent less time with her as his obsession with the campaign grew. Day and night he drove himself, hoping to find an advantage over the opposition. She couldn’t help but feel neglected by his behavior.

Odala jumped as Tobin barged into the tent, seething. Blood ran down his arm and mud caked his chest and face. She ran to him. “Are you alright?”

He pushed her away and began rummaging through a trunk of his personal belongings. “I’m fine.”

“But your arm?”

“It’s nothing.”

She waited a moment. “What happened?”

Tobin stopped and slammed the lid to the trunk. He looked over his shoulder. “What happened was Charu. Somehow he knew our strategy. We still gained the ground, but our losses were great again.” He strode across the space to another trunk and searched. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“How did my brother do?”

“Fine,” said Tobin, his tone suddenly morose. “He did fine.”

“What are you looking for?”

“A map. It was one of Nachun’s and if I remember, it showed the details of the land differently. I need to think of something before this campaign falls apart.”

“You’re being too hard on yourself.” She paused. “Why don’t we just go back to Juanoq?”

He slowly turned and stood. He held a rolled sheet of parchment in his hand. “Why would I do something like that?”

The look in his eyes startled Odala. “So we could spend more time together. There is more to life than war, isn’t there?”

Tobin narrowed his gaze. “You don’t think I can do it, do you? You think I’m going to fail?” He lowered his voice. “I hear the whisperings in camp among some of the men. I know they feel the same.” He shook his head. “I thought you understood. I’m Warleader. If I cannot succeed at this, then I am nothing to my people. This is my life.”

Odala felt her eyes well up. “What am I then?”

Tobin stared intensely at her. She swore he would say the words she needed to hear any moment. Instead he brushed by without a word, leaving her alone again.

She wept bitterly.

* * *

Tobin’s head pounded, muting the sounds of a frustrated army. He didn’t have to hear his men’s irritation—he saw it everywhere as he strode through camp. He knew they questioned his ability to lead. If he could not find a way to more soundly defeat Charu, he did not doubt his fall from warleader would be more rapid than his rise.

How does he stay a step ahead of me?

Tobin quadruple-checked his plans and tried things he knew no one had ever done before. Yet, without the superiority of his warriors, the war would have already been lost.

And now, even Odala doubts my abilities.

Tobin had enough.

He found Walor in the chow line. Tobin waited for the Kifzo to grab his bowl and then they met in an isolated part of camp, away from prying eyes and ears. He unrolled the map and explained his plan.

Walor listened intently. The surprise on his face grew.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes. We need to gain some momentum before reaching Feruse. Do you think he will expect it?”

“I don’t think even the Kifzo would expect this.”

“Good. I’m telling no one else the plan until we’re on our way. I’m beginning to wonder if Charu has found a way to infiltrate our ranks.”

Walor nodded. “How many are you taking?”

“Five hundred. Only the best and most trusted. Wait until the camp settles down before you give Ufer his orders. Then we’ll rouse the others. I want to wait until the last possible moment before we leave. I’m leaving you in charge.”

* * *

Odala woke with a start as she heard her name shouted from outside. She had cried herself to sleep, pondering whether her relationship with Tobin was worth it. She never decided whether she truly had feelings for him or if she had simply been infatuated with the attention and power her position gave her. She felt the cold place next to her and realized Tobin had not come to bed.

Soyjid burst through the tent flaps. “Where did Tobin go?”

“He’s probably at some fire with his men,” she snapped.

“No, he’s not.” He cocked his head to the side. “He didn’t tell you where he was going?”

She scowled. “No. He tells me less each day. Why?”

“He left with five hundred Kifzo in the middle of the night, but no one knows where he’s gone to except for Walor and he refuses to see me.”

Odala turned her back to Soyjid and pulled the covers over her head, even angrier with Tobin. “He probably went out on a mass scouting mission. What does it matter to you? He’s warleader. Tobin can do as he pleases,” she said bitterly.

Soyjid kicked her bed and stormed out of the tent muttering. “Why do I even bother with you?”

* * *

An hour before dawn five hundred pairs of intense eyes stared at the Green Forest Clan village. The company of Kifzo warriors Tobin led had traveled over a day and a half away in order to reach their destination. At his command, the men had left behind all of Nachun’s newer armor, opting instead for lighter packs. The Kifzo had not fought this way since their invasion of the Orange Desert Clan.

Seems like a lifetime ago.

Tobin pushed aside the guilt that plagued him for making the same decision Kaz had so long ago.

Kaz would have done this from the start, but this wasn’t my first choice. Charu forced my hand.

Tobin noted the eagerness in the eyes of his men.

Ufer crouched beside him. “Warleader, the scouts have returned. They estimate one thousand inhabitants.”

“And the warriors using it as a base for scouting?”

“Eight hundred.”

More than I thought we’d come against. Nachun’s map obviously did not reflect any recent changes.

“Location of the warriors?”

“They’re clustered on the far side of the settlement. Those nearest us are the ones living here.”

Tobin watched the burning coals from the night’s fires glow between the wooden structures and animal pens. His stomach knotted.

“I’ll take four hundred men to engage their warriors. Get the rest into position here. When you hear us attack, surge into the settlement. No mercy to anyone except the children. I want them to carry the news back to Charu.”

Ufer nodded in what looked like approval. “Warleader, if we are able to finish things quickly, the men will want to enjoy themselves with the women. I know your thoughts, but it would do good to lift their spirits after the past couple of months.”

Ufer’s words hung in the air.

Tobin looked around at the hungry eyes in his warriors as he considered the request.
I can’t believe I’m even considering this. But the whole point of this trip is to solidify their loyalty.
Tobin rolled his jaw. “Just this once, since they’ll die soon afterward.” Tobin tasted the bile creeping into the back of his throat. “But again, no children.”

“It will be done.”

Ufer crawled away and spread the word. Tobin glanced one last time at the sleeping village. He selected his men and steeled himself to the grim task ahead.

What’s one more nightmare to add to the others?

* * *

The pounding storm hid many things in the murky gray morning. It muffled the screams of women being used. It stifled the celebratory cheers from the Kifzo who, with only thirty-eight casualties, managed to wipe out an entire settlement.

The rain washed the blood from Tobin’s skin and clothes while the thunder hushed the wailing cries from the long lines of three hundred odd children fleeing the village in panic. Older ones carried or dragged the younger ones behind them in haste, worried that the menacing warriors would change their mind and turn their weapons on them.

“A great victory, Warleader. The men will spread this tale like fire once we return to the main camp.”

Tobin grunted.

“And Charu will . . .”

“Later Ufer. See that the men are doing as they were told.”

“Yes, Warleader.” Footsteps faded, slopping through the fresh mud.

Tobin stood alone on the edge of the village near the sole road leading away and watched the last of the children run into the trees, thankful that the rain masked his tears.

* * *

Odala left camp and ran into the woods. She slipped and fell on a wet root protruding from the ground. She examined her muddy hands and punched her leg, angry as she huddled near the base of a large pine tree. She brought her knees in close and wept.

Her head jerked at the crunch of leaves and she saw Soyjid round the side of an oak some twenty feet from her.

He glanced her way. “There you are. You know, it’s too dangerous for you to run off like that. It’s possible that Charu could have someone lurking nearby. They’d snatch you up in a second in order to get to Tobin.”

Odala wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. “So? I doubt Tobin would really care.”

Soyjid stopped a few feet from her. “So you’ve heard?”

“Of course I heard. The entire camp is buzzing with what he did.”

“Have you spoken with him?”

“No. I saw the men cheering for him and the look of satisfaction he wore. I ran away before he spotted me.” Her voice softened. “It reminded me of when he threatened father. I may have actually loved him once.” She paused. “But now I hate him. He tries to be good, but any man who could do the things he did is evil.” She shook her head. “When you first had me try to spy on him and he told me about some of the awful things he had done, he blamed Kaz and his father for giving him those orders or for putting him in situations where he had no choice. But he had a choice this time.”

“I’m sure he’ll blame Charu for pushing him into this decision,” said Soyjid.

“He’s wrong. It’s simpler than that. For all his training and physical skills, he failed.” She looked up. “Everyone says that you’ve done well with the orders given to you. Perhaps you should be commander. You wouldn’t do something so awful, would you?”

“Never. But watch what you say, Sister. Few outside of our clan would agree with you. His men love him more today for what he’s done.”

“You were right all along.” She sighed. “Too bad we can’t stop them.”

Soyjid glanced around him and lowered his voice. “Who says that we can’t?”

* * *

“That’s the last one, Warchief.”

Charu rubbed his temples. “You said that last time, Gidan.”

“Scouts back-tracked the trails this time.”

“What’s the final number?”

“Four hundred ninety-eight children. And they’re all telling the same story.”

So many.

“And you’re sure they weren’t followed?”

“Positive. I sent men to check the village in order to confirm the story, but given the circumstances I have no reason to doubt what they’ve told us.”