From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [97]
“Won’t we be seen?” Achan asked. “Does not Esek also have bloodvoice scouts?”
“He likely does,” Sir Gavin said. “But at least this way they won’t sneak up on us in the dark.”
“I am thinking it is being safer to be waiting for the boats,” Inko said.
For once Achan agreed with Inko, but for a different reason. “Why don’t we just fight and be done with it?”
“Because Armonguard is the prize, not Mahanaim,” Sir Eagan said. “If we engage Esek now, we could lose too many men to stand up against Esek’s southern army. But if we can slip past at the eastern Reshon Gate while he awaits us in Mahanaim…”
“We stand a chance of beating his northern army to Armonguard,” Sir Gavin said. “Even things up a bit. Do you approve, Your Highness?”
“I do.” As if there were any other options. “We draw aim toward the eastern Reshon Gate. If there’s nothing else…?” No one spoke, so Achan said, “Meeting adjourned.”
Sir Caleb waved Achan to follow him. “Sir Shung is a worthy Shield, but he is not as useful if he never eats or sleeps. I’m sure you’ve noticed how tired he’s been of late?”
Shung always wanted to sleep, but Achan hadn’t considered the reason might be because of his position as Shield.
Sir Caleb held open the tent flap for Achan to exit. He ducked outside and found two guardsmen waiting.
Sir Caleb stopped before the men. With your permission, Your Highness, Sir Gavin has assigned these men. They’ll work in pairs with Sir Shung and Kurtz, alternating schedules so you’ll have two Shields at all times.
Achan considered the soldiers. Both were in their early twenties. One was tall and thin with blond hair slicked back into a tail. The other had light brown skin, shaggy dark hair, and a flat nose. If Sir Gavin trusts them, then of course I give permission. Thank you.
Sir Caleb set a hand on the blond man’s shoulder. “This is Cortland Agros, my nephew. He escaped Allowntown’s siege because he was in Mitspah on an errand.”
Cortland bowed his head. “An honor, Your Highness.”
Achan took in the resemblance between Sir Caleb and his nephew, smiling at how Cortland had tamed his hair.
Sir Caleb motioned to the brown-skinned man. “And Manu Pitney came to us from Nesos. He is, in fact, your cousin, as your mother and his father were siblings.”
“Your father is Lord Pitney?” Achan asked.
“No, Your Highness.” Manu’s voice was a lower pitch even than Shung’s. “Lord Pitney is my uncle. My father was the youngest of the family.”
“Pleased to know you,” Achan said. “I should like to meet all your family someday.”
Manu bowed. “That would be an honor, Your Highness.”
Clearly Manu had been taught every shred of decorum Achan lacked. Perhaps in time his cousin would become more friendly, like Shung.
The idea of friends made Achan think of Sparrow. He hoped that time would loosen Sparrow’s knots as well. That she would not only remember, but that things might go back to the way they were before.
P A R T 4
THE WAYS OF WAR
16
“But why would I run from the man I love?” The reason seemed obvious to Averella. “Perhaps I do not care for him as much as you say I do.”
Gren shook her head. “Oh, no. On our trip from Carmine, you cried yourself to sleep each night thinking about him.”
Averella sat up in the bed where she had awakened. Gren sat on the edge beside her. Though Averella’s mind and body had reunited, her memory had not returned. Gren told her that she had spent nearly a year dressed as a stray boy, that she did indeed love the man called Achan Cham, who was the real Gidon Hadar, Crown Prince of all Er’Rets, and that—for some reason—she had run away from him.
And apparently cried herself to sleep over it. None of this made sense. “After having been away from home for so long, I would have been heartbroken to leave again.”
Gren cocked one eyebrow. “I saw you in his chambers after he’d been hurt. You held his hand. Sang to him.”
The very idea tickled Averella. “There, you see? My voice is not equipped for song.”
But Gren went on. “Something about pity for your heart from the day you