Reign of Shadows - Deborah Chester [25]
Caelan wrapped his cloak tightly around his chest and kicked his own pony to catch up. They rode hard and fast, the ponies’ breath steaming in long white plumes. Geese rose off the water with startled honking as they galloped by. More than once their path dipped into the semifrozen slush. The ponies leaped and plunged through it, kicking spray high behind them.
Beva never rode hard like this, but Caelan enjoyed it. Their pace was exhilarating. The sense of mysterious danger gave the adventure extra spice. He found himself watching land and sky as warily as his father was, his senses drinking in the cold outdoors that he’d missed while in school. The air was crisp and clean with scents of pine and spruce over laying the bog smell. The snow stung his face and malted his eyelashes. It was glorious.
Finally forest curved ahead of them. Beva dove into the cover of trees and undergrowth and drew rein beneath the sweeping branches of a larch. Breathless, his heart pounding, Caelan stopped beside him and let his snorting pony drop its head. Both animals were heavily lathered. Steam rose off their wet bodies into the cold air.
Around them the forest lay still, with only the soft rattle of falling snow through the branches. Occasionally a jackdaw could be heard in the sky.
Beva finally blinked and seemed satisfied.
“What is it?” Caelan asked softly. “Can we return to the road?”
“No. Too dangerous. We must stay in the forest, where there is cover.”
“But if we go this way, it will take twice as long to get home.”
“Better to be safe than quick,” Beva said, adjusting his gauntlets.
“If you’re worried about robbers, light your lantern.”
Beva shook his head. “Light will only call attention to us. We must take great care.”
“From what?” Caelan asked in bewilderment. “What kind of robbers do you fear?”
“Not robbers.”
Caelan waited for his father to continue, but Beva was looking into the forest, tight-lipped and plainly worried.
“I can’t help if I don’t understand,” Caelan said in frustration. “Why the secrecy?”
Beva shot him a glance, his face unreadable. He hesitated, then said, “Imperial troops are being withdrawn from the eastern borders.”
“Yes,” Caelan said impatiently. “I know thai. You aren’t afraid of them, are you? What happened to me was just a—”
Beva glared at him. “Some of the auxiliary forces are comprised of Thyzarenes. With their release from service, they have begun raiding—sometimes as far as the northern rim.
Caelan’s mouth fell open. Instinctively he ducked farther beneath the branches. “Thyzarenes!”
His mind churned with the thought of it. Thyzarenes were worse than devils. They were said to attack from the sky, riding huge winged monsters that breathed fire. They were merciless savages who pillaged and destroyed. There had been none in Trau in Caelan’s lifetime.
“But—”
“Quick hunt-and-strike raids,” Beva said grimly. “If the emperor wants to use them against his enemies, that is one thing, but he should not turn them loose on a peaceful and loyal populace.”
“But why are they raiding us? Are you sure it’s not just rumor to liven up winter days?” Caelan asked with a skeptical laugh.
“I have seen their work,” Beva said. “Two holds burned so far and one village. People slaughtered or carried off. The few survivors are in no shape to bury the dead, and that of course brings the wolves.” His mouth tightened with the little twist that always came when he failed to save a patient.
Caelan was ashamed now that he’d laughed. “But the army has moved on, hasn’t it? I mean, when I saw them they were marching fast, not living off the land or raiding as they went. Wouldn’t the Thyzarenes go with them?”
“Who is to say what such savages will do?” Beva asked. “Trau joined the empire for protection, not to be pillaged for sport.”
“When we get home we’ll have to open the arms room,” Caelan