Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [251]
General Tsieh had reckoned we could gain the Stone Forest in a hard day's ride, but by the time the light began to fade, I was beginning to doubt. Bao and Ten Tigers Dai argued in low tones about whether or not to press on in darkness and risk missing the Stone Forest altogether.
"If we had lanterns, we could see in the dark," Dai said bitterly. "Tortoise wanted to bring lanterns."
"If we carried lanterns, we might as well announce our presence to any waiting sentries." There was a raw edge to Bao's voice. "Do you imagine I grieve for Tortoise any less than you? He was the first to swear loyalty to me."
Dai's eyes blazed. "And look where it got him!" The princess flinched at the words. Dai looked mortified.
"Stop, both of you." I knew it was only exhaustion and frayed nerves that made them quarrel. "Think. If I call the twilight, I can see—" I stopped, staring into the distance. "A campfire."
"That won't—" Bao began.
"No." I pointed. A tiny spark of flame lit the dusk. "There's a camp-fire ahead of us." Inspiration struck me. "My friend, you know this terrain," I said to the dragon, holding an image of our location in my thoughts. "Are we near the Stone Forest?"
Yes, he said promptly. Very near.
"That's the entrance to the approach, then," Bao mused. "And those will be Lord Jiang's sentries." He and Dai exchanged a glance.
"Only a few," I reminded him. "General Tsieh said there would be others hidden in the maze."
"Uh-huh." Bao plucked his staff loose from the straps that tied it across his back, whipping it over his shoulder. His teeth shone whitely in the dusk as he flashed his battle-grin, harder and fiercer than usual. "And maybe we can slip past them. But these are the ones guarding the entrance. And Dai and I can approach them unsuspected, seeming to be their fellows. Noble Princess, I beg you to let us deal with them. You and the dragon dare not risk yourselves unnecessarily. Not now, with so much at stake."
"Others will come, drawn by the commotion," Snow Tiger warned him.
"Perhaps," he said simply. "If they do, it will make it easier for you and Moirin and her magic to evade them. We will hold them off for you as long as we can. Perhaps they will never know you were there."
Dai nodded.
"No. No, no, no." Realizing they were speaking of sacrificing themselves, I shivered. "There must be another way. Let me think. If we wait… can we afford to wait? If we wait for full darkness, the others waiting on the mountain will be forced to fumble their way blind, or announce their presence with lanterns and torches. I can summon the twilight and lead you past them."
I can guide you if I am allowed to see, the dragon added.
"So be it," the princess murmured.
We waited.
I hated every nerve-racking minute of it. Waiting and waiting, while dusk deepened to velvety darkness. Listening, ears pricked, for sounds of pursuit. Staring at the distant campfire, trying to count the flickering shadows of the figures around it.
No less than four, no more than six.
"Oh, you should have posted more sentries, Lord Jiang-buggering-Quan," Bao crooned, stroking his staff lovingly. "You should have been more clever, Master Lo's no-good, ambitious son. And now you will pay."
"For Tortoise," Dai added.
"For Tortoise," Bao agreed.
Snow Tiger was silent. I knew her well enough to know that the slaughter of innocent, misguided men troubled her. And I knew her well enough to know that she had gauged the necessity of this moment and consented to it; and that knowing it must be done, she would rather take the burden of it on herself. But Bao was right, the stakes were too high. She dared not risk herself unless it was absolutely necessary.
Once the darkness was absolute, Bao jerked his chin at Dai. The two of them rode forward, clad in battered armor borrowed from dead men who had served Lord Jiang. The princess and I trailed behind them at a discreet distance.
Jiang's sentries