Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [241]
I did not think that would happen here, not unless we succeeded in freeing the dragon. The commonfolk were one thing, but Lord Jiang's men were another. They had the very real, very gruesome death of young lord Jiang Jian to avenge. If they had not been willing to listen to Abbot Hong in all his wisdom, they would not be swayed by a foreign witch's gifts.
And Lord Jiang's army stood between us and White Jade Mountain.
Rumor held that both armies had massed in an uneasy standoff. Lord Jiang's forces surrounded the base of the mountain, with a handful of companies posted in the pastures in the foothills to hold the high ground. There were fewer of them, but many peasants reported seeing them transporting weapons such as we had seen, bronze tubes mounted on ox-drawn carts. The Imperial army had made camp in the fields some distance away, and the Son of Heaven himself was in command.
Neither army, it seemed, was eager to make the first move.
"My father is waiting for me," Snow Tiger murmured. "Even now, doubt plagues him. If we do not arrive soon, his resolve may weaken."
"Why does Lord Jiang hold his hand?" I wondered aloud.
"Because he does not know where I am," she said grimly. "If we succeed in freeing the dragon, it will overturn their plans at a single stroke. Until he is sure of my whereabouts, it is more important to guard the mountain and its passes than to rush into battle. Once he is sure, he and Black Sleeve will not hesitate." Her shoulders tightened. "And that prospect grows more likely with each day that passes."
I tried to console her. "But your father's army stands between Jiang's forces and everything else. In choosing to guard the mountain, they have isolated themselves."
"True." She pressed the heels of her hands against her blindfolded eyes. "But Lord Jiang had other hunting parties searching for us," she reminded me. "And we have not had word of them for days. Even now, I fear that they be carrying news of my whereabouts to him."
"Your father's army would not let them pass, my lady," I assured her with a conviction I didn't feel. "Surely, they will have sentries posted."
The princess sighed. "I pray you are right."
As it transpired, I was.
And that was not a good thing.
If it hadn't been for our impromptu network of spies, we would have ridden straight into the ambush. Of course, if it hadn't been for our ragtag army of peasants and the gossip they spread, there would not have been an ambush in the first place. And as Master Lo had observed, if the princess had not revealed herself in the marketplace of the fishing village, none of this would have been set into motion. But it was also true that if he had not piqued her sense of honor and duty, she would not have done so.
It didn't matter, not really. What mattered was that we learned that there was an ambush awaiting us.
"Three li!" The boy who had brought the news was doubled over and gasping for air, hands braced on the threadbare knees of his coarse pants. "Lord Jiang's hunting parties! In the pass!"
Snow Tiger nodded at Bao, bidding him to speak for her. He knew what questions she would ask.
"You are very bold to run so far, so fast, Little Brother," he said with uncommon gentleness. "How many men are there? What weapons do they carry? Can you tell us the lay of the land?"
With an effort, the boy straightened. His dark gaze slid from the blindfolded princess to Bao and back. "Are you her general?" he asked in awe.
Ten Tigers Dai snorted.
"I am what passes for it, yes." Bao scowled at Dai. "So, Little Brother. Speak, and leave out no detail. Tell us what you may."
By the boy's best count, there were at least forty soldiers awaiting us in the low mountain pass ahead, all mounted, all armed with bows and swords. At this point, we had at least fifty men in our motley army, but only ten bows, not including mine, and the princess was the only trained archer among the fighters.