Kings of the North - Elizabeth Moon [213]
Garris grinned, to the obvious surprise of the other Squires. “Aliam’s rules, eh?”
“Right. It’s near enough dawn; the kitchen may have already lit fires, so I suspect we’ll be getting hot food soon.”
“The Council?”
“I expect they’ll arrive on their own while we eat. As will my elven relatives.” Surely they would come, would appear any moment. “I am monitoring the taig now, but would like Orlith or another to do so as well.”
“Is there any chance our river force can throw them back?”
“It might, depending on what force they sent and what their fire weapon is. The Pargunese king’s mention of a ‘forbidden hill’ and ‘dragons’ fire’ worries me. It may be nothing more than a scare-name, but if it’s not—”
“Sir King—” That was the steward, looking both scared and determined. “Bread’s not out yet, but there’s porridge-cakes quickfried and cold meats—hot sib in a few minutes.”
“Excellent,” Kieri said. “Come now—let’s eat. Everyone needs to start this day with a good meal under their belts.”
“My lord—” The steward bowed them into the small dining room.
Kieri and Garris ate heartily, and soon his Squires joined in. Kieri drank down a cup of hot sib in three swallows, finishing just as Orlith arrived.
“Sir King—I’m glad to see you’re awake.”
“The taig woke me, as I’m sure it did you. Have you eaten?”
“Yes,” Orlith said. “Others are coming.”
“The Lady?” Kieri asked. “I haven’t been able to reach her through the taig.”
“I expect so,” Orlith said.
“Good,” Kieri said, applying himself to another porridge-cake. “We will have a busy day. I would like you to monitor the taig, so that I can deal with other things from time to time. I’m staying in contact, but I don’t want to miss anything it might tell us and yet I must attend to purely military matters as well.”
“As you wish, Sir King,” Orlith said, bowing.
“I’m sending couriers to bring in our reserves of rangers,” Kieri said. “And the Halveric with his troops.”
“I thought they were already here—”
“No.” Had Orlith paid no attention earlier? “A cohort and a half are still south, with Aliam.” Servants brought in a steaming basket of hot bread. Kieri broke off an end and slathered it with butter, then dripped honey on it. “Let this stand for the pastry,” he said. “We’re already talking business, and we must continue.”
Garris pushed back his chair. “By your leave, Sir King, I’ll get the couriers started on their way—and yes, I’ll make sure they’ve breakfasted.”
“Good. Whoever’s at the river should already have sent to Tsaia to warn them, as well as to us. Send also to whatever domains you think might not be touched by couriers on their way to and from the river.”
Garris bowed and left just as Sier Halveric arrived, more flustered than Kieri had ever seen him.
“Sir King!”
“Sit down,” Kieri said. “Have some breakfast—”
“There’s no time,” Halveric said. “We must do something.”
“We must prepare for a long and difficult day,” Kieri said. “Eat, if you haven’t. I’m sending couriers to Aliam and to steadings between here and the river.”
“How long have you been awake?” Halveric asked, reaching for the bread.
“A turn of the glass, now. The taig woke me. When Aliam arrives, he will take command of all our forces, second only to me. I’d like you to see to provisioning, if you would.”
“Of course, Sir King … you are so calm; are you not worried?”
“Worried? Of course. Panicked, no. This is not my first war.”
He felt the northern edge of the taig flinch, as if from a blow; glancing at Orlith, he saw that the elf had felt it as clearly.
“Dry leaves and a wind from the north,” the elf said. He did not need to say more. Kieri could almost feel his own skin crisping in a blaze, as dry leaves ignited and blew through the air, lighting the dry wood of fallen limbs … but deeper in the forest, the burning leaves fell on snowdrifts and went out. “They picked an ill time to use fire,” the elf said. “Autumn before snow would be better …”
“That may have been their original plan,” Kieri said, “which we delayed, by intervening in the matter of their king. Let us ask the gods