Frostfell_ The Wizards - Mark Sehestedt [104]
"What is this, Belkagen?" said the omah nin, and even his proud voice held a tone of awe.
"When Hro'nyewachu gave this to Amira," said the belkagen, "these were her words: 'It will sharpen the bite she gives her enemies.' Thus I name the staff Karakhnir. It was Hro'nyewachu herself who counseled us to take Amira's son to the Witness Tree in Iket Sotha, and it was Hro'nyewachu who gave Amira this staff to hurt those who would hurt her son. Do we doubt the word of our people's most sacred heart?"
That silenced all argument. Feeling suddenly exposed and on display, Amira lowered the staff and sat back down beside her son.
"We make war upon the Fist of Winter and their minions," the belkagen continued. "Hro'nyewachu bids us to do so and gives to Amira the weapon to lead us." He glanced around the gathering, then said, "I have spoken," and sat down.
All eyes turned to the omah nin. He sat in silence a long while, looking at no one. When he looked up, his gaze fixed on Amira. "We will attack Iket Sotha as Hro'nyewachu commands. We will bring fear to our enemies. And Lady Amira will lead us. The omah nin has spoken."
"Wait!" said Amira. "No one has asked me what I think of this."
Turha frowned at her. "The omah nin has spoken."
Amira thought of a half-dozen ways she could point out that omah nin or no, she was not Vil Adanrath and no matter how many oracles this man consulted, he was not her lord. Instead, she said the one thing she meant most.
"I'm not leaving my son. Not again. He's been taken from me twice already. Until we've dealt with this… this monster, Jalan isn't leaving me."
The belkagen said, "Lady-"
"No! Don't you 'Lady' me. You said it yourself. This staff, this Karakhnir is our best defense against these fiends who want nothing more than to take my son. I'm his best hope of staying safe."
"Lady Amira, I-"
But this time it was the omah nin who cut him off, simply by raising one hand. Haerul waited for silence, then said, "Your son's best hope is to kill those trying to harm him, and your best hope for doing that is to attack them before they attack you. Do you truly wish to take your son into battle?"
"No, of course not, but…"
The omah nin raised his eyebrows and nodded. It was the same expression her brother used to make at her when besting her in some argument, and Amira almost threw her staff at the high chief.
"Lady Amira," said the belkagen, his voice mild, "will you hear me?"
Amira looked at him, her mouth a razor-sharp line, and gave one stiff nod.
"Remember the words of Hro'nyewachu. Jalan must go to the Witness Tree. Whatever is going to happen there, we must buy Jalan time. We must keep the Fist of Winter distracted at all costs. You and Karakhnir will do this like no other. The Vil Adanrath will fight, but it is you and your staff that the Fist of Winter will fear. You know this."
Amira did know it, though she hated every bit of it. Sifting through the oracle's words, she grasped the last tattered string of the unraveling cloth of her argument.
"I will give you the staff, Belkagen. Lead your people to victory. I will take Jalan to this Witness Tree and do… whatever must be done."
The belkagen shook his head and sighed. "I cannot. The staff is for you and you alone. I will not desecrate the gift of Hro'nyewachu."
And so it had been decided. And so it would begin any time now-Amira leading the first strikeforce upon Winterkeep while other packs came in from every direction. The plan was simple: Keep the enemy's attention fixed on Winterkeep. The belkagen and Lendri would take Jalan to the Witness Tree.
By sunset tonight, all this would be over, one way or another. Amira swore to her gods that Jalan would be free today, or she would be dead trying to free him.
* * * * *
The belkagen and Lendri came to her not long after. Amira's heart lurched, and she swallowed. The elves stopped near her fire.
"It is time, Lady," said