On Fire's Wings - Christie Golden [138]
“Do you have eusho?” she asked.
The council had gone well. Not only was Kevla present, but she had insisted that all the Lorekeepers—men and women—and the Great Dragon be in attendance as well. Some of the khashims looked as if they would have seizures when she spoke her conditions, but they gave in.
First, Melaan spoke briefly as to the history of the situation. Two others who had managed to elude the Emperor on a previous occasion told of what they saw. Each clan leader told how many men, weapons and provisions he had brought to contribute to the cause.
Preparations for war began in earnest. While many, such as the Clan of Four Waters, had listened to Kevla’s plea and arrived ready for battle, others had simply come to hear what she had to say. Now, these clans sent out dozens of hawks, calling for reinforcements. Some would arrive in time, others would not.
Each night, Kevla and the Dragon soared over Mount Bari to spy on the approaching troops. The army was massive, and because of its size it moved slowly. Also, the mountain chain was not forgiving, and it was difficult to move so many men, beasts and pieces of equipment up its forbidding slopes.
On the third night, Kevla and the Dragon were returning to the clan encampments when the Dragon said, “Kevla. Look down. Do you see them?”
“What am I looking for?” asked Kevla. There was an odd note in the Dragon’s voice and she did not think he was trying to draw her attention to a herd of liahs.
“Men,” the Dragon said simply.
She looked harder and then she saw them: eight or so, clad in the strange metal clothing of the Emperor’s army. They had only two horses and moved with purpose. At first, Kevla thought they were coming to attack the clans, but then she realized that they were moving up the mountain, not down it.
“They’re a scouting party,” she said. “They’ve seen us.”
The Dragon craned his neck to look at her, his golden eyes glowing in the darkness. “Until now, the Emperor has assumed that the clans could be picked off one by one,” he said. “If these scouts report what they have seen—”
“They’ll know we’re waiting for them,” she finished.
“They can’t be allowed to report back.”
“I know, but….”
“I understand this is difficult for you,” said the Dragon, “but you have done this before.”
Suddenly Kevla had had her fill of these reminders of lives past. Of people she had been, who Jashemi had been, who had lived and died and still lived and—
“No, I haven’t!” she cried. “I, Kevla Bai-sha, have killed no one! I haven’t even deliberately hurt anyone! I don’t want to kill these people, Dragon. I just want—”
“I know what you want,” the Dragon said harshly, “who you want. But you can’t have him, Kevla. Jashemi is dead. Your old life is dead. And your new life and the lives of almost everyone else down there are going to be lost if you don’t accept the responsibility that comes with being who you are! You’re the leader, Flame Dancer, and you’ve got to be bigger now than Kevla has ever been. The boy died so you could become the Flame Dancer. Don’t let his death be in vain!”
Kevla was as startled as if he had splashed cold water on her face. She was terribly hurt, and very angry. How dare he speak to her like this!
“A few more moments, Flame Dancer,” said the Dragon in a soft, angry voice, “and you will lose the chance. They will be far enough up the mountain so that the enemy will see our fire.”
Kevla’s lower lip quivered. “I can’t murder them.”
“Then they will reach the Emperor, and he will learn the truth about the force that faces him, and more of your people will die.”
Kevla swallowed hard. “What do I do? How do I fight them?”
“Like this,” said the Dragon, and dove.
Kayle had been more than pleased at what the Arukani woman had told him. She had a good eye for what mattered; she said she had been married to a clan leader and was familiar with such things. His luck. He was so delighted with the information that he kept his word and sent her walking off with food and gold. Privately, he thought she would die in the mountains