From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [156]
“We are selfish creatures, even those of us who know Arman. We’re also creatures of habit. But we can be retrained. I suggest you try to form new habits.”
Toros’s visits never had the same effect on him. Some days, Toros would leave Achan feeling like Arman’s best friend. And some days, like today, Achan felt as though he fell short of Arman’s expectations.
Sir Caleb strode into Achan’s tent, cheeks flushed. “Your Highness. Sir Gavin just got word from Sundergow. Armonguard is taken! Esek’s black knights attacked the fortress at dawn. The road south is blocked by black knights. And the remaining enemy troops from Mahanaim followed us from the north. We are trapped.”
Trapped. Achan pushed back from the table. “How is this possible? Prince Oren had his own army and the Mârad. And who is Sundergow?”
“Prince Oren’s advisor.”
“Did he speak of Prince Oren’s state?”
“Stormed.”
“Stormed!” Achan jumped up and circled the table. Toros stood as well. “That can’t be. He was struck with the green fire. The same fire that took the top of my ear. How can he be stormed?”
“Sundergow seems to think Prince Oren stormed himself to escape the coming impact of the fire.”
Achan paced beside the table. “Stormed himself? Is that even possible?”
“It is, Your Highness. Prince Oren’s body is with Sundergow in the dungeon.”
Achan recalled finding Sparrow’s lifeless body in the Sitna keep. At least Prince Oren was trained in the Veil. Still, should Achan go looking for him? Could Duchess Amal? “What will we do?”
“Sir Gavin has called the generals. We are to go to the meeting tent right away.”
Achan bowed to Toros. “Forgive me, Toros. I must go.”
Toros returned the bow. “My prayers go with you, Highness.”
When Sir Caleb and Achan arrived in Sir Gavin’s tent, several conversations were taking place at once. Achan quickly took his seat and called for quiet. He asked Sir Gavin to share the details of the situation, which offered no more information than what Sir Caleb had already shared.
“I see we have but two options,” Sir Gavin said, referring to his massive leather map that again covered the table. “One, we go east and await Captain Chantry’s fleet from Tsaftown. We board the ships and attack Armonguard from the sea.”
“Are the ships close enough?” Captain Demry asked.
“Can they hold all our men?” Sir Eric asked.
Captain Demry’s muscular build and dark eyes were a stark contrast to Sir Eric’s wiry form and blue eyes. The two sat side by side.
“They can hold us all, but they’ve only passed Walden’s Watch,” Sir Gavin said.
“Then they’re still several days from us,” Captain Demry said.
“But it’ll take us several days to reach the coast.” Sir Gavin drew his finger along the path they might take. “We’d likely get there around the same time.”
Altair, the captain of the contingent from Zerah Rock, grunted. “‘Likely’ isn’t good enough when we’re trapped on all sides by the enemy.”
“I agree,” Captain Loam said.
“What’s your other option, Sir Gavin?” Sir Eric asked.
Sir Gavin ran his finger the opposite direction off the King’s Road. “We head west through the game trails, making our way to Edom Gate. What’s left of the Mârad army retreated there to wait for our instructions. They are five thousand strong. We’d have to leave the wagons behind, for the trail is narrow and quite steep once we reach the mountains. Captain Demry and most of the men—maybe two thirds—could set up camp inside Edom Gate, while the rest of us travel another day to Noiz to plan our attack.”
“Couldn’t Esek’s men be trapping us in Noiz easier than they already have been doing here?” Inko asked. “There is only being one way coming in and going out of Noiz.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Sir Caleb said. “There’s only one road in and out of Noiz, but there are other ways to get there. Rivers. Mountain trails.”
“Now, wait,” Achan said. “They intend to fight us here? On the King’s Road? Why?”
Sir Gavin tapped the burned image of Castle Armonguard. “To keep us from reaching our goal. The more of us they kill before we reach Armonguard, the easier time Esek’s men